Possible selves, depression and coping skills in university students

The relationship between possible selves, depression, and coping styles was examined. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Possible Selves Questionnaire (PSQ), and the Coping Skills Inventory (CSI) were administered to university students. The results revealed significant relationships between scores on the BDI and scores on the positive possible selves scale of the PSQ and between the negative possible selves scores and the BDI. The depressed students had more negative possible selves and also reported more avoidance coping strategies than the non-depressed students. This study indicates that the presence of positive possible selves in the cognitive self-schema may be a mediator of depression and coping skills.