Document Type

Honors Thesis

Publication Date

5-2012

Abstract

Research indicates an individual’s tendency to ruminate in response to seasonal changes predicts the severity of seasonality as well as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). However, research on the relationship between other coping strategies and SAD is sparse. My hypothesis was that maladaptive coping strategies such as mental disengagement would be related to higher levels of SAD. My research used archival data from 607 undergraduate students who reported on SAD symptoms and a variety of other measures. Statistically significant differences between coping strategies were found for women and men. In addition, predictors of seasonality were not consistent across gender. The present study identifies gender-specific factors related to seasonality.

Included in

Psychology Commons

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