Treatment for Depression a Critical Evaluation of the Effects of Social Support on Depression free essay sample

Social support can be defined as: â€Å"information leading the subject to believe that he is cared for and loved, esteemed, and a member of a network of mutual obligations† (Cobb, 1976, p. 1). It is useful to note that there are many diverse types of social support that can be both beneficial and/or detrimental to the recovery from depression (Arditte amp; Joorman, 2011; Blais amp; Renshaw, 2012; Dolokin, Panzarella, Fernandez, Alloy, amp; Cascardi, 2004; Grav, Hellzen, amp; Romild, 2011; Marroquin, 2011). This essay will cover the topics of the benefits of social support on depression, and how one goes about seeking and receiving ocial support. It will also discuss the role of gender in social support, and finally it will talk about some different types of social support that can be used. There is overwhelming amounts of research that substantiate the fact that social support helps to ameliorate depression. Having a clear support structure significantly reduces depressive ep isodes, and decreases the chance of having depression re-occur (Lin, Ye amp; Ensel, 1999). We will write a custom essay sample on Treatment for Depression: a Critical Evaluation of the Effects of Social Support on Depression or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lin, Ye and Ensel discussed certain steps a person can take to help gain adequate social support, such as joining a community project, or helping in volunteer work. Participating in events that involve being around others enhances a feeling of belongingness. Which they express in their research can facilitate the creation of binding relationships with others, thus helping to create a practical social support network. Their study also found a correlation between people who had intimate relationships with others, and a decrease in depressive moods. They also note the relationship between the amount of contact, or support a depressed person receives per week has a dramatic effect in reducing their symptoms. It is interesting to note that persons who have a greater perception of social support feel less depressive symptoms over time, whereas people thinking they are lacking adequate social support state an increase in depressive symptoms (Lin, Ye amp; Ensel, 1999; Cohen amp; Wills, 1985; Gladstone, Parker, Malhi amp; Wilhelm, 2007). The need for social support varies significantly across genders (Cheng, 1999). For instance, Cheng notes that men report to having a lower need for support than woman. Her study found that males reported to being more self-reliant and independent, and thus wanting to solve the problems they are facing alone. This could potentially explain the reason that they need less social support than woman. Her study found that people with more feminine characteristics report a decrease in depressive moods when they receive more social support. In addition to looking at the quantity in which males and females wish to receive social support, it would be beneficial to understand the two types of social support that is applicable to gender. Firstly, emotional support, which can consist of hugging, pats on the back, listening, and empathising (Grav, Hellzen amp; Romild, 2011). The second form of social support that Grav, Hellzen and Romild investigated was tangible support, which can include: helping the depressed person with their physical responsibilities, cooking a meal, buying groceries, brainstorming and help with problem solving. Woman who suffer from depression reported needing more emotional support to help overcome their depression, whereas men identify with needing more tangible support (Grav, Hellzen amp; Romild, 2011). Another specific type of social support which has been studied recently is Adaptive Inferential Feedback (AIF) as found in a study conducted by Dobkin, Panzarella, Fernandez, Alloy and Cascardi (2004). This information was further supported by Panzarella, Alloy and Whitehouse (2006). Both studies explain that adaptive inferential feedback involves giving positive feedback to a depressed person regarding their stressful life event to help them avoid depressive thinking. Panzarella et al. (2004) states that helping the person curve their thinking in a positive direction helps buffer the affects of the depression. To put it simply, the supporter is giving positive praise for things the person did well, while not focusing on any negative aspects. It could be argued that this method employs a tendency to trivialize problems and that by only focusing on the positives, the negative aspects of the persons life will not be appropriately dealt with leading to greater problems further down the road. For this reason it may be best to use this type of support in tandem with the method outlined below. The use of another specific type of social support that can be used when a person with depression does not have an adequate support network at their disposal is Emotion Regulation   (Arditte amp; Joorman, 2011). Arditte and Joorman investigated the impact of emotion regulation strategies on depression. In their research, they focused their study on different subtypes of emotion regulation which could be beneficial to ameliorating depression. Their research found that cognitive reappraisal and ruminative reflection could be used as helpful tool when battling depression. They explain that cognitive reappraisal is a tool whereby a person would re-interpret a stressful life event in a way that softens its psychological impact from a negative way to a more positive way. For example, if a person suffering from depression is informed that their partner wants to leave the relationship, they could use cognitive reappraisal and think about the situation in a more positive way, â€Å"I will find someone who is going to be better for me anyway. †Ã‚   Arditte amp; Joorman (2011) go on to explain that reflection can be used as a positive or negative emotion regulation trategy. They found that when a person reflects inwards at one’s self, focusing on positive aspects, that would be considered ruminative reflection, which is a key strategy in reducing depression. However, if the depressed person is focusing on the negative aspects, that is considered ruminative brooding; this type of emotion regulation will be detrimental to recovery from depression. With this data collected, we have more of an understanding about how social support helps to ameliorate depression and are able to conclude that social support is a helpful tool in conquering depression. Specific determining factors, with regards to types of support, who, and when support is received can be found to be instrumental in accounting for it’s effects (Grav, Hellzen amp; Romild, 2011). While depression is no doubt a complex phenomena, and it can be argued that social support alone will not be able to concur the issue, but when used in conjunction with other treatment methods, it is certainly an invaluable tool. References: Arditte, K. A. , Joorman, J. (2011). Emotion regulation in depression: Re? ection predicts recovery from a major depressive episode. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 35, 356-543. Blais, R. K. , Renshaw, K. D. (2012). The association of biological and psychological attributions for depression with social support seeking intentions in individuals with depressive symptoms. Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, 40, 605-617. Cheng, C. (1999). Gender-role differences in susceptibility to the influence of support availability on depression. Journal of Personality, 67(3), 439-467. Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38(4), 300-314. Cohen, S. Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357. Dobkin, R. D. , Panzarella, C. , Fernandez, J. , Alloy, L. B. , amp; Cascardi, M. (2004). Adaptive inferential feedback, depressonogenic inferences, and depressed mood: A labratory study of the expanded hopelessness theory of depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 28(4), 487-509. Gladstone, G. L. , Parker, G. B. , Malh i, G. S. , Wilhelm, K. A. (2007). Feeling unsupported? An investigation of depressed patients perceptions. Journal of Affective Disorders, 103, 147-157. Grav, S. , Hellzen, O. , Romild, U. (2011). Association between social support and depression in the general population: the HUNT study, a cross-sectional study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21, 111-120. Lin, N. , Ye, X. , amp; Ensel, W. M. (1999). Social support and depressed mood: A structural analysis. Jounal of Health and Social Behavior, 40(4), 344-359. Marroquin, B. (2011). Interpersonal emotion regulation as a mechanism for social support in depression. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 1276-1290. Panzarella, C. , Alloy, L. B. , Whitehouse, W. G. (2006). Expanded hopelessness theory of depression: On the mechanisms by which social support protects against depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 30, 307-333. Strange, J. P. , Boccia, A. S. , Shapero, B. G. , Molz, A. R. , Flynn, M. , Matt, L. M. , Alloy, L. B. (2013). Emotion regulation characteristics and cognitive vulnerabilities interact to predict depressive symptoms in individuals at risk for bipolar disorder: A prospective behavioural high-risk study. Cognition and Emotion, 27(1), 63-84.