Social problem solving and autobiographical memory in non‐clinical depression

OBJECTIVES: We examine the proposal that specific autobiographical memories may play a major role in successful social problem solving (SPS). DESIGN AND METHODS: Depressed and control students report on the types of memories they retrieve while performing an SPS task and a cueing task. RESULTS: The retrieval of specific memories on the cueing task and during SPS was found to be positively related to SPS skill. CONCLUSIONS: Specific memories are important for successful SPS. However, the relationship between a specific memory deficit and poor SPS is mediated by severity of depression.