Evaluates whether anxiety, event valence and demographic variables influence relationship between helplessness and depression. Results showed: adolescents with anxiety and depression from lower socioeconomic backgrounds made less helpless attributions for negative events; and African-American adolescents showed less helpless attributions for negative events than Caucasian adolescents. Also suggests that helpless attributions may be related to both anxiety and depression in males. (Contains 27 references.) (GCP)