ИСТИНА

Introduction. Negative self-descriptions are related to depression while inconsistency in descriptions of others to personality disorders in adults. Self-focused attention further increases negative thoughts in depression. In adolescence a specific vulnerability due to ongoing identity formation is present. Objectives. The aim was to study the role of valence and consistency of self-descriptions in well-being and coping in adolescents with mental disorders. Methods. Adolescents (13-17 years) diagnosed with depressive disorders (n=29), conduct disorders (n=29) and 26 matched controls were asked to rate self and others using opposite adjectives (Rasskazova et al., 2015) before and after task on self-focused attention, filled Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefski et al., 2002).   Results. Depressive adolescents tend to describe themselves more negatively while adolescents with conduct disorder tend to describe others in a more inconsistent manner (p<.08). Self-focusing didn’t change descriptions. In depression but not in controls positive and consistent self-descriptions correlated with rare self-blaming, acceptance and ruminations (r=-.44 - -.39 vs r=-.14 - .09, Z=-1.65 - -1.92, p<.09). In conduct disorders positive self-descriptions correlated with lower negative emotions (r=-.62 vs r=-.14, Z=-2.16, p<.05) while inconsistent descriptions of others were related to higher satisfaction with life (r=.32 vs r=-.18, Z=2.07, p<.05). Conclusions. Positive self-descriptions are a protective factor in depressive adolescents while inconsistency in descriptions of others may serve as a defense mechanism supporting life satisfaction in adolescents with conduct disorders. Study supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project 17-06-00849 «Motivational and cognitive-affective factors of identity formation».