Interpersonal dysfunction in depressed women: impairments independent of depressive symptoms

Abstract

Background: The study explored the generality of interpersonal impairments in depressed women and examined the extent of their independence of current depressive episodes or symptoms.Methods: 812 community women who were formerly depressed, currently depressed, or never depressed were compared on a variety of indices of interpersonal behavior and beliefs. Information was also obtained from their spouses, adolescent children, and raters. Current depressive mood and sociodemographic factors that might affect social functioning were controlled.Results: Consistent with the hypotheses that interpersonal difficulties are not just consequences of depressive symptoms, formerly but not currently depressed women were significantly more impaired than never-depressed women on nearly all measures. They were less likely to be stably married, had poorer marital satisfaction, reported more spouse coercion and physical injury, had more problematic relationships with their child, friends, and extended family, reported more stressful life events with interpersonal and conflict content, and were more insecure in their beliefs about other people. Their spouses and boyfriends also reported more problems, and were themselves more likely to have diagnosable disorders. However, the groups did not differ in their children's perceptions of maternal warmth or hostility. Limitations:The cross-sectional design precluded conclusions about the causal direction of the relationship between interpersonal impairment and depressive disorder. Since clinical depression is more often than not followed by subthreshold symptoms that are not captured by standard diagnostic instruments, such symptoms are not easily discernable from preceding or co-existing interpersonal problems. Only women were studied. Conclusions:Interpersonal impairment is a stable feature of depression, a significant challenge to treatment, and may reflect underlying vulnerability to the onset, and recurrence, of depressive experiences.

Intergenerational Transmission of Depression: Test of an Interpersonal Stress Model in a Community Sample.

“…The current data were cross-sectional; however, maternal and grandmother depression variables preceded current symptoms in the youths, and the youth and family functioning variables reflected relatively stable factors likely existing for many years (see, e.g., Hammen & Brennan, 2002, regarding the stability of maternal functioning factors). A longitudinal study that is currently underway on the present sample may provide future opportunity to evaluate the intergenerational interpersonal stress model.…”

“…The model proposes that the negative effects of maternal depression on youths' depressive outcomes are largely due to the stressful family environment and its consequences for youths' interpersonal functioning. Such environments commonly include a father with psychopathology, as well as the youth's exposure to poor marital relationships and to evidence of the mother's interpersonal difficulties with others in her social world, such as her extended family and friends (e.g., Hammen & Brennan, 2002). The youths may directly observe relatively maladaptive ways in which to relate to others and witness poor skills for preventing or resolving interpersonal disputes.…”

Disfunção familiar referida pela presença de depressão materna e/ou alcoolismo na família e ocorrência de cárie dentária em crianças de dois e três anos de idade

“…Depressão materna e/ou alcoolismo na família 10,[15][16][17][18][19][20] e reforçam a idéia de que, para além das clássicas explicações centradas na biologia ou no estudo de variáveis socioeconômicas, como escolaridade e renda, ou ainda de variáveis relacionadas com padrões de comportamento, observase que certas condições de existência parecem conferir chance adicional para a ocorrência de enfermidades. Em particular, a condição de depressão materna.…”

“…18 Segundo esses autores, há associação entre saúde mental da mãe e qualidade da interação mãe/criança. Precárias condições emocionais maternas podem levar a um padrão geral de cuidado infantil inadequado, que aumenta o risco para a ocorrência de doenças, desnutrição 10 ou retardo de desenvolvimento.…”

Predicting depression across multiple domains in a 12 year longitudinal investigation of a population sample of children and adolescents.

“…For example, in a comparison o f currently depressed, past-depressed and neverdepressed women, Hammen and Brennan (2002) found currently depressed women had significantly more recent stressful events and a higher rate of interpersonal conflict compared to never-depressed women. Additionally, interpersonal problems were not limited to the timing of the depressive episode, as previously depressed women also reported significantly less marital satisfaction and more coercive problem solving tactics occurring within the couple compared to never-depressed women (Hammen & Brennan, 2002).…”