Influence of Social Support and Gender on Depressive Symptoms among Orthopaedic Patients.
ABSTRACT
The study examined the influence of social support and gender on depressive symptoms among orthopaedic patients.
Three hundred (161 males and 139 females) patients of National Orthopaedic hospital, Enugu, aged 20 to 35 years (mean age = 23.90, SD = 2.70), participated in the study.
Social Support was measured using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, while depression was measured using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
Two-way analysis of variance showed that social support and gender did not significantly influence patients’ depressive symptoms.
Further, gender did not also significantly influence depressive symptoms among orthopaedic patients. Thus, there was no interaction effect between social support and gender on depression.
The implications of findings were discussed, limitations outlined and recommendations for future studies made.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables vii
List of Appendices viii
Abstract ix
Chapter One: Introduction 1
Statement of the Problem 4
Purpose of Study 5
Chapter Two: Literature Review 6
Theoretical Review 6
Empirical Review 15
Summary of Literature Reviewed 20
Hypotheses 21
Chapter Three: Method 22
Participants 22
Instruments 22
Procedure 24
Design/Statistics 25
Chapter Four: Results 26
Chapter Five: Discussion 28
Implications of the Study 30
Limitations of the study and Suggestions for Further studies 33
Summary and Conclusion 33
References 35
Appendices
INTRODUCTION
Depression is a mental illness in which a person experiences sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities. Depression is not a weakness or a character flaw, it is a true psychiatric illness that requires serious and urgent psychological attention.
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders –IV- Text Revised (2000) defines depression as “a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities” (p.405).
It further states that depressive symptoms may be a common associated feature of chronic psychotic disorders.
If it is judged that the depressive symptoms are not the direct physiological consequence of the general medical condition, then the primary mood disorder is recorded on Axis I (eg., dysthymic disorder) and the general medical condition is recorded on Axis III (eg., diabetes mellitus).
This would be the case, for example, if the depressive symptoms are considered to be the psychological consequence of having a chronic general medical condition or if there is no etiological relationship between the depressive symptoms and the general medical condition.
However, depressive disorder is a disabling condition which adversely affects a person’s family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health.
In the United States, around 3.4% of people with depression commit suicide, and up to 60% of people who committed suicide had depression or another mood disorder.
REFERENCES
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.) (Text Revision). Washington, DC: Author.
Beck, A.T. (1967). Depression: Clinical, experimental and theoretical aspects. New York: Hoeber.
Beugre, C.D. (2006). Reacting aggressively to injustice at work: a cognitive stage model. Journal of Business and Psychology, 20, 291 – 301.
Bracken, B.A., and Reintjes, C. (2009). Age, race, and gender differences in depressive symptoms: A lifespan developmental investigation. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28(1), 40 – 53.
Bracken, B.A., and Reintjes, C. (2009). Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28(1), 40-53.
Carl, R., Fredrick, P., and Maslow, A. (1960). Psychological self- tools. New York: Hoeber.
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