Dolores Gallagher Thompson

Publication Details

• Dimensions of perceived social support in clinically depressed and nondepressed female caregivers.

  Rivera PA, Rose JM, Futterman A, Lovett SB, Gallagher-Thompson D. Psychol Aging. 1991; 6 (2): 232-7

  The relationship between social support and depression was studied in 165 women caring for frail family members. The Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule (Barrera, Sandler, & Ramsay, 1981), which includes 4 dimensions of availability and use of resources and satisfaction with and need for support, was used to examine 7 categories of supportive activity. Depression was assessed according to Research Diagnostic Criteria (Spitzer, Endicott, & Robins, 1978) with the Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (Endicott & Spitzer, 1978). There were no differences in overall satisfaction with received support in comparisons of depressed and nondepressed caregivers. However, depressed caregivers (n = 87) reported a higher incidence of negative interactions with others. Both groups appeared to have equal access to social support, with nondepressed caregivers (n = 78) reporting significantly greater use of those resources.

  PubMedID: 1863392