The link between response styles and major depression and anxiety disorders after child-loss.
Although several studies have indicated that persons with a high ruminative coping style experience higher depression after the loss of a loved one, the relationship between ruminative coping and the occurrence of clinical depression and anxiety disorders after a loss has not been thoroughly investigated. This study investigated the relationship between response styles (ruminative coping v distractive coping) and the onset of major depression and anxiety disorders in a sample of parents who had experienced sudden child-loss (N = 106). The incidence of major depression after the loss of a child was very high (69%). After controlling for demographic variables and psychiatric history, ruminative coping was significantly associated with the onset of major depression, as defined by DSM-IV, but not with the onset of anxiety disorders. Thus ruminative coping after the loss of a child appears to be a risk factor specifically for major depression.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003643:Death; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors