Life Events, Coping Styles, Social Support, and Family Relationships of Middle-Aged Depressed Women

Lee, Jin Wook; Kim, Yim; Yi, Sun Mi; Kim, Dong In; Eun, Heon Jeong

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the psychosocial factors such as life events, coping styles and family relationships in middle-aged depressed women. This study was designed to compare how different variables relate to depression in two different test groups: a depressed patient group and a normal group. The Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), The Ways of Coping Checklist, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List(ISEL), Family Environment Scale were administered to 116 depressed patients and 113 normal persons between the ages of 35 and 64. The results were as follows 1) The highest stress was marital stress(n=42, 36.2%) in patient group and family stress(n=44, 38.9%) in normal group, respectively. 2) There were significant differences between patient group and normal group in BDI scores (t=15.94, p<.0001), lift events(t=4.73, p<.0001), active coping(t=6.29, p<.0001), social support(t=7.20, p<.0001), and family relationship(t=5.75, p<.0001) except for passive coping(t=0.93, p=.35). 3) In depressed patient group, BDI scores had a significantly positive correlation with the scores of the life event(r=.24, p<.01) and negative correlation with active coping(r= -.22, p<01), social support(r=-.35, p<.001) and family relationships(r=-.30, p<.001). 4) In depressed patient group, multiple regression analysis showed that social support(12.3%, beta=-.281, T=-3.162, P=.002), lift events(5.1%, beta=.279, T=3.195, F=.002), and active coping(3.5%, beta=-.204, T=-2.225, F=.028) had predictability on the BDI scores and the total predictability was 20.9%. 5) Stress experienced in family relationships were highest in life events and there was a lack of consistency(in the BDI scores ol the coping styles). Social support was the most important factor and there were no significant differences between the two groups in family relationships.