Practical text looking at why so many women suffer from depression, identifying the causes, understanding the causes of depression, exploring ways of coping and recovering, and evaluating the help available.
Practical text looking at why so many women suffer from depression, identifying the causes, understanding the causes of depression, exploring ways of coping and recovering, and evaluating the help available.
Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 62(3), 2017, pp.243-250.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Hijab or veiling is commonly practiced by Muslim women but remains controversial in the broader secular society. Some Western feminists argue that veiling is an oppressive behavior that negatively affects women by, for example, engendering depression. This article tests this hypothesis with a national sample of American Muslim women (N = 194). The results of the regression analysis did not support the hypothesis. Indeed, women who veiled more frequently reported lower, rather than higher, levels of depressive symptoms. In other words, wearing the hijab appears to be a protective factor in the area of depression. Given the prevalence of depression among women, the results have important implications for practice with Muslim women at both the micro and the macro levels.
(Publisher abstract)
Hijab or veiling is commonly practiced by Muslim women but remains controversial in the broader secular society. Some Western feminists argue that veiling is an oppressive behavior that negatively affects women by, for example, engendering depression. This article tests this hypothesis with a national sample of American Muslim women (N = 194). The results of the regression analysis did not support the hypothesis. Indeed, women who veiled more frequently reported lower, rather than higher, levels of depressive symptoms. In other words, wearing the hijab appears to be a protective factor in the area of depression. Given the prevalence of depression among women, the results have important implications for practice with Muslim women at both the micro and the macro levels.
(Publisher abstract)
Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 27(2), May 2012, pp.180-189.
Publisher:
Sage
Feminist theorists suggest that women’s experiences of depression are intimately tied to multiple factors, such as oppression and violence. However, they tell little about how feminist women who have been diagnosed with depression construct their own experiences. This article presents findings from interviews with nine feminist women, aged 24 to 54, living in Toronto, Canada, who had received a diagnosis of depression that were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the majority of participants constructed subjective understandings of depression that emphasised social factors, but this understanding neither mitigated their material suffering nor was entirely dismissive of biological understandings. Implications for future interventions are discussed.
Feminist theorists suggest that women’s experiences of depression are intimately tied to multiple factors, such as oppression and violence. However, they tell little about how feminist women who have been diagnosed with depression construct their own experiences. This article presents findings from interviews with nine feminist women, aged 24 to 54, living in Toronto, Canada, who had received a diagnosis of depression that were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the majority of participants constructed subjective understandings of depression that emphasised social factors, but this understanding neither mitigated their material suffering nor was entirely dismissive of biological understandings. Implications for future interventions are discussed.
Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 23(4), November 2008, pp.338-348.
Publisher:
Sage
The authors propose a novel theoretical approach for conceptualizing gender differences in depression. Although the empirical literature documents an array of variables that are related to depression, most theories focus on microlevel variables at the expense of macrolevel variables in their conceptualization. This article focuses on the potential importance of power differentials in the etiology of depression in women who cohabit with men and presents an integrated theoretical model that will be useful for both practice and research.
The authors propose a novel theoretical approach for conceptualizing gender differences in depression. Although the empirical literature documents an array of variables that are related to depression, most theories focus on microlevel variables at the expense of macrolevel variables in their conceptualization. This article focuses on the potential importance of power differentials in the etiology of depression in women who cohabit with men and presents an integrated theoretical model that will be useful for both practice and research.
Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 51(1/2), 2008, pp.42-52.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
In this research study the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale were administered to 36 women aged 60 or older participating in either a peer-run or a staff-run support group, and nine women not attending any support group. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale showed significant differences between the women in the peer-run and comparison groups,
In this research study the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale were administered to 36 women aged 60 or older participating in either a peer-run or a staff-run support group, and nine women not attending any support group. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale showed significant differences between the women in the peer-run and comparison groups, but no such differences between women in the peer-run and staff-run groups, or between the staff-run and comparison groups. Analysis of the date from the other scale indicated no significant differences between women in any of the groups. The implications for those who run support groups for older adults, or who train peer group facilitators, are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(5), May 2008, pp.635-651.
Publisher:
Sage
... examined the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression on battered women's safety at follow-up. Participants completed both a baseline and follow-up interview, including data on abuse experiences. Results suggest symptoms of PTSD predict severity of violence at follow-up over the impact of help-seeking behaviours, perceived helpfulness of these behaviours, and social support.
Intimate partner violence continues to be a social crisis that results in a complex array of physical and mental health problems. Although resources to counteract the effects of the violence are sometimes available, the post trauma sequelae may prevent access by those in need. Using the Chicago Women's Health Risk Study, a naturalistic longitudinal study of 320 abused women, the current study examined the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression on battered women's safety at follow-up. Participants completed both a baseline and follow-up interview, including data on abuse experiences. Results suggest symptoms of PTSD predict severity of violence at follow-up over the impact of help-seeking behaviours, perceived helpfulness of these behaviours, and social support. Implications of results are discussed.
Subject terms:
post traumatic stress disorder, women, depression, domestic violence;
HIV infection is increasing among women in the US, particularly among racial minority groups. The hypothesized theoretical model considered the extent to which indicators of depression, sexual desire and sexual importance would predict whether sexual behaviour would occur for a sample of 96 women with HIV. The results of this study supported previous findings that depression significantly
HIV infection is increasing among women in the US, particularly among racial minority groups. The hypothesized theoretical model considered the extent to which indicators of depression, sexual desire and sexual importance would predict whether sexual behaviour would occur for a sample of 96 women with HIV. The results of this study supported previous findings that depression significantly decreases the chances that sexual behaviour will occur, while sexual desire and sexual importance moderately increased the chance occurrence of this variable. The results of this study suggested that the mental health of women with HIV significantly affects whether they engage in sexual behaviour. HIV-prevention and intervention models need to be more inclusive of those factors that are most salient in the sexual relationships of women. Moreover, additional research is needed to examine the importance of maintaining sexual behaviour for women with HIV.
Social Work in Health Care, 45(4), 2007, pp.43-62.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
... However, the psychological symptoms (irritability and depression) were the two most common symptoms in this sample. This study documents a relatively heavy burden of symptoms in an aging cohort of methadone-maintained women. The physical and psychological impact of aging and, in particular, the experience of menopause in these women is rarely studied and poorly understood. This gap in critical knowledge
Menopause is a natural process that occurs in women's lives as part of normal aging. Many women go through the menopausal transition with few or no symptoms, while some have significant or even disabling symptoms. The purpose of this paper is to describe the menopausal symptom experience of 135 urban methadone-maintained midlife American women between the ages of 40 and 55 years. A cross-sectional survey comprising sample characteristic questions and a 14-item menopause symptom checklist was administered. Ninety-six percent reported one or more symptoms with a mean of 6.2 symptoms. Symptom reporting was found to be relatively high, with more than half of the sample reporting hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, joint pains, and fatigue in the two weeks preceding the survey. However, the psychological symptoms (irritability and depression) were the two most common symptoms in this sample. This study documents a relatively heavy burden of symptoms in an aging cohort of methadone-maintained women. The physical and psychological impact of aging and, in particular, the experience of menopause in these women is rarely studied and poorly understood. This gap in critical knowledge is further complicated by the remarkable similarity of many symptoms associated with menopause and opiate withdrawal. Aging, drug-related health problems, and poor access to health care further complicate the picture and underscore the importance of better integration of health care with social work intervention. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).