A replication study of the relationships between depressive symptoms, behavioral activation and avoidance depending on gender

Behavioral activation is a well-established empirical treatment of depression focusing on two psychological processes that are activation and avoidance. Little is known about the relations between depressive symptoms and these two psychological processes. Then, this study investigates the predictive value of behavioral activation and avoidance on depressive symptoms. Since depression seems to be characterized by gender differences, this study investigates these relations depending on gender. Furthermore, gender differences in symptoms profiles are assessed. These two aims tend to replicate results from the study of Wagener, Baeyens & Blairy (2016).

Three hundreds and sixteen adults completed self-report scales centered on depressive symptoms (BDI-II) and behavioral activation and avoidance (BADS-SF).

As in the initial study, our results show (1) a significant difference in symptomatology depending on gender for sadness and loss of interest in sex, (2) positive predictive values of behavioral avoidance on almost all depressive symptoms in both gender except for increase of sleep, (3) negative predictive values of behavioral activation on almost all depressive symptoms in both gender except for decrease of sleep and loss of interest in sex. The strengths of some of these relationships are different in gender in both study, but no consistent results were observed.

Results support the notion that (1) depression is characterized by symptoms differences in function of gender and (2) behavioral activation and avoidance are two psychological processes to target in psychotherapy of depression.