Behavioral theory of depression: Reinforcement as a mediating variable between avoidance and depression

► Behavioral theory posits that certain environmental changes and avoidant behaviors inhibit individuals from experiencing environmental reward and reinforcement and subsequently leads to the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms. ► This investigation examined whether environmental reward mediated the relationship between avoidance and depression. ► When controlling for anxiety, both indices of environmental reward (self-report, daily diary) significantly mediated the relationships of depression with cognitive, behavioral and total avoidance. ► Post-hoc mediation analyses indicated self-reported environmental reward significantly mediated the relationship between avoidance and depression across both genders. ► In females, daily diary-measured reward only mediated the relation between cognitive avoidance and depression. ► In males daily diary reward was a mediator with all three forms of avoidance and depression.