Saliha Özsoy, Sümeyye Akbayrak, Özlem Olguner Eker, Mustafa Baştürk
{"title":"Perceived social support and coping strategies in patients with depression: A longitudinal study.","authors":"Saliha Özsoy, Sümeyye Akbayrak, Özlem Olguner Eker, Mustafa Baştürk","doi":"10.1177/00207640251353680","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>When the etiology of major depression is examined, the existence of psychosocial factors is undeniably important. Inadequate social support and use of dysfunctional coping strategies are psychosocial factors that play a role in the etiology of depression. This study investigated the perceived social support and coping strategies in patients with depression and whether they change with remission.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Both cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys were conducted.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included 50 patients in the active phase of a major depressive disorder, 30 patients in the remission of depression, and 50 healthy controls. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Assessment Scale for Coping Attitudes (COPE) were applied to all subjects. The same scales were repeated in 20 patients, who were in the active phase of depression at the beginning of the study and were in remission after approximately 3 years of follow-up. Psychometric test scores of three groups were compared with one-way ANOVA test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and post hoc tests. In the longitudinal analysis, the paired <i>t</i>-test and Wilcoxon tests were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The patients' perceived social support scores were lower than the remission and control groups (<i>p</i> < .001). The total scores of non-functional coping attitudes of both the patient and remission groups were higher than those of the control group (<i>p</i> < .001 and <.001). The problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping total subscale scores of the patient group were found to be lower than both the remission group (<i>p</i> < .001 and <.001) and the control group (<i>p</i> = .001 and .001). When the follow-up patients were evaluated while in remission, perceived social support scores increased compared to those in the active phase (<i>p</i> = .008 for total social support score). Non-functional coping scores decreased (<i>p</i> = .023). Perceived social support level associated with problem-focused and emotion-focused coping attitudes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The prognosis of depression might be affected by the perception of social support and coping attitudes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"207640251353680"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640251353680","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims: When the etiology of major depression is examined, the existence of psychosocial factors is undeniably important. Inadequate social support and use of dysfunctional coping strategies are psychosocial factors that play a role in the etiology of depression. This study investigated the perceived social support and coping strategies in patients with depression and whether they change with remission.
Design: Both cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys were conducted.
Methods: This study included 50 patients in the active phase of a major depressive disorder, 30 patients in the remission of depression, and 50 healthy controls. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Assessment Scale for Coping Attitudes (COPE) were applied to all subjects. The same scales were repeated in 20 patients, who were in the active phase of depression at the beginning of the study and were in remission after approximately 3 years of follow-up. Psychometric test scores of three groups were compared with one-way ANOVA test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and post hoc tests. In the longitudinal analysis, the paired t-test and Wilcoxon tests were used.
Results: The patients' perceived social support scores were lower than the remission and control groups (p < .001). The total scores of non-functional coping attitudes of both the patient and remission groups were higher than those of the control group (p < .001 and <.001). The problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping total subscale scores of the patient group were found to be lower than both the remission group (p < .001 and <.001) and the control group (p = .001 and .001). When the follow-up patients were evaluated while in remission, perceived social support scores increased compared to those in the active phase (p = .008 for total social support score). Non-functional coping scores decreased (p = .023). Perceived social support level associated with problem-focused and emotion-focused coping attitudes.
Conclusion: The prognosis of depression might be affected by the perception of social support and coping attitudes.
期刊介绍：
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities.
Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas.
The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.
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