A Comprehensive Evaluation of Equivalence Classes in Adults with High and Low levels of Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms.

Previous studies have raised the question whether clinical conditions like depression may affect symbolic behavior. This study investigated whether participants with high and low levels of self-reported depressive symptoms differed on equivalence class formation, transformation of function, and main...

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Published in:Psychological Record Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 451 - 468
Main Authors: Zapparoli, Heloísa R., Silveira, Marcelo V., Petursdottir, Anna Ingeborg, Aggio, Natália M., Camargo, Julio C., Cortez, Mariéle Diniz
Format: Article
Published: Springer Nature Sep2025
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Sep2025
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      pub: Springer Nature
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        10.1007/s40732-025-00650-3
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        atl: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Equivalence Classes in Adults with High and Low levels of Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms.
      aug:
        au:
          Zapparoli, Heloísa R.
          Silveira, Marcelo V.
          Petursdottir, Anna Ingeborg
          Aggio, Natália M.
          Camargo, Julio C.
          Cortez, Mariéle Diniz
        affil:
          https://ror.org/00qdc6m37 Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, CEP: 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
          Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Sobre Comportamento, Cognição e Ensino, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
          https://ror.org/028kg9j04 Universidade Federal Do ABC, São Bernardo, SP, Brazil
          https://ror.org/01keh0577 University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
          https://ror.org/02xfp8v59 Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
      su:
        Mental depression
        Beck Depression Inventory
        Equivalence classes (Set theory)
        Behavioral assessment
        Emotional conditioning
        Symbolic dynamics
      sug:
        subj:
          Mental depression
          Beck Depression Inventory
          Equivalence classes (Set theory)
          Behavioral assessment
          Emotional conditioning
          Symbolic dynamics
      keyword:
        Depression
        Equivalence classes
        Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Psychology Medical and Health Sciences Clinical Sciences
        Transformation of function
        Depression
        Equivalence classes
        Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Psychology Medical and Health Sciences Clinical Sciences
        Transformation of function
      ab: Previous studies have raised the question whether clinical conditions like depression may affect symbolic behavior. This study investigated whether participants with high and low levels of self-reported depressive symptoms differed on equivalence class formation, transformation of function, and maintenance. Participants were divided to two groups based on scores on the Beck Depression Inventory–II: high level and low level of self-reported depressive symptoms. Participants underwent matching-to-sample procedures to establish three equivalence classes, that included faces expressing emotions and abstract stimuli. The semantic differential and the implicit relational assessment procedure (IRAP) were then administered to assess the transformation of function. Two semantic differential control groups, also categorized by high and low level of self-reported depressive symptoms, evaluated the experimental stimuli using the semantic differential. A follow-up session occurred 30 days later to verify the maintenance of results. The high-level group was less accurate in matching-to-sample training and tests compared to the low-level group. Transformation of function was similar for both groups, as measured by the semantic differential. However, a "happiness superiority effect" was observed only for the low-level group in the IRAP. Maintenance was similar for both groups, except for the evaluation of the happy stimuli using the semantic differential, which deteriorated for the high-level group. This was the first study to compare equivalence-like behaviors in depressed and nondepressed participants, using stimuli with emotional valence.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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