Depression and Pessimism An Correlative-Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aims at pointing out the relationship between Depression and Pessimism on one hand, and their relations with some psychological variables through their relation with sex and age variables, together with the differences between the two sexes and other age categories as for Depression and Pessimism on a Syrian sample on the other hand. In addition to the above mentioned, it aims at pointing out the percentage of diffusion. The sample consisted of (1134) student of both sexes in Damascus University, and of (522) students of both sexes in Damascus secondary schools. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) which was standardized and into Arabic by Ahmad Abdel-Khalek was used in this study. Pessimism Scale, which was prepared by Badr Al-Ansari, was also used. The results showed a significant positive correlation between Depression and Pessimism and between sex and Depression while sex didn’t related with Pessimism. Age did related either with Depression or Pessimism. There were significant differences between sexes in some Items of Beck Depression Inventory and Pessimism Scale. Difference between University and Secondary Schools as for Depression and Pessimism were shown.