Positive and negative depression coping in low‐income African American women

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine positive and negative depression coping (DC) in low-income African American women. Because low-income African American women have been shown to be vulnerable to depression symptom onset yet less accepting of treatment, DC in this population is of interest to researchers. Depression symptom severity, defense mechanisms, difficult life circumstances (DLC), and social support were examined as possible determinants of DC. In 244 mildly or moderately to severely depressed women, mature defense mechanisms predicted positive DC, and DLC predicted negative DC. Social support had no effect on positive or negative DC. Findings are discussed in terms of individual and community tailored rehabilitative psychotherapy to promote positive DC.

Mother's Childrearing History and Current Parenting: Patterns of Association and the Moderating Role of Current Life Stress

“…In general, the level of correspondence between mothers' self-reported parenting and their observed behavioral and emotional responsiveness was modest (rs = .03 to .22). Rates of stress in this sample were comparable to rates reported in other studies focusing on low-income, ethnically diverse samples (e.g., Oakley et al, 2005).…”

“…Respondents indicate experience of each stressor in a dichotomous yes/no format; responses are summed to yield a total score. Acceptable reliability (1-year test-retest correlation = .70 for the total score; Barnard et al, 1989) has been reported with a low-income sample, and scores have been associated with maternal depression, social support, and disturbances in parenting in low-income African American women (Oakley, Song, & McQuirter, 2005).…”

The Roles of Spirituality in the Relationship Between Traumatic Life Events, Mental Health, and Drug Use Among African American Women from One Southern State

“…Fatalistic beliefs are related to existentialism among African American women with the attribution of the meaning of their lives being determined by a higher power. These beliefs have historically functioned as an adaptive coping mechanism for African Americans contributing to overall resiliency (Oakley, Song, & DeBose-McQuirter, 2004; Younge, Salem & Bybee, 2010) particularly when individuals perceive a limited access to resources. Thus, the idea of fatalism should be further explored in future research for its relationship to spirituality among African American women.…”

Nepenthe Theory of Defense Mechanism Functioning and Defensive Behavior in African-U.S. People With Replication and Extension to Psychological Africanity (Racial Identity)

“…Cronbach alphas were .864 for total DSQ scores (N = 137), .841 for maladaptive style (N = 138), .602 for image-distorting style (N = 139), .544 for self-sacrificing style (N = 139), and .433 for adaptive style (N = 139). Research supports the validity of the DSQ-88 (Andrews, Pollock, & Stewart, 1989;Andrews, Singh, & Bond, 1993;Bond, 2004;Bond et al, 1983;Bond & Wesley, 1996;Davidson & MacGregor, 1998;Yilmaz, Gencoz, & Mehmet, 2007) with African-U.S. people too (Azibo, 2007;Azibo, Jackson, & Slater, 2004;Oakley, Song, & Delrose-McQuirter, 2005). Short-form versions exist (Thygesen et al, 2008;Watson & Sinha, 1998).…”