A Controllability Attributional Model of Problems in Living: Dimensional and Situational Interactions in the Prediction of Depression and Loneliness

A controllability attributional model of problems in living, focussing on depression and loneliness is presented. Unique predictive contributions of all main effect and linear interactions of four attributional style dimensions (controllability, locus, stability, globality) to the prediction of two problems in living (depression, loneliness) were examined. Consistent with the proposed model, the globality dimension did not contribute uniquely. As expected, the controllability dimension was a particularly strong predictor of problems in living. Most important was the finding of several strong dimensional interactions, in which the effect of controllability attributional style on problems in living depended upon stability and locus attributional style. Additional analyses revealed that success and failure attributional style contribute interactively to the prediction of problems in living, and that loneliness is more uniquely associated with attributional style for interpersonal situations. Discussion focuses on theory development, the consequences for therapy, and on future research directions.