JUDGEMENTS OF CONTINGENCIES IN DEPRESSED AND NONDEPRESSED INDIVIDUALS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW
The current study represents a meta-analysis focusing on depressed and nondepressed individuals’ judgments of contingencies. Specifically, it aimed: 1) to determine whether depressed individuals display more accurate judgments of contingencies than nondepressed individuals do, and; 2) to determine under which conditions this effect is statistically significant. A literature search revealed 16 studies representing 1167 participants. Results indicate that depressed individuals’ judgments of contingencies are more accurate than those of the nondepressed. This effect is moderated by the objective degree of contingency but not by sex, depression severity or other task characteristics. Results are discussed in regards to the optimal margin of illusion theory.