Depression and engagement in pleasant and unpleasant activities in normal children.

This study investigated Lewinsohn's reinforcement model of depression by examining the relationship between depressive symptomatology and mood-related activities in normal children. Subjects were 138 children aged 8 to 14 years. Children and their parents rated the children's depression and engagement in pleasant and unpleasant activities. It was found that children's depression was correlated positively with increased engagement in unpleasant activities. However, the predicted negative correlation between children's depression and engagement in pleasant activities was supported only when children's mood was assessed by parental report, and not by children's self-report.