Brown & Harris (1978)

Aim

To investigate the role of social factors and stressful life experiences in depression.

Method

458 women in north London where participants were part of a series of interviews in 2 phases:

1st phase: Interviews on qualities of interpersonal ties, extent an dtype of social support and self esteem also assessed for psychiatric disorder at interview and 12 months later

2nd phase: measures of stressful life events and actual social support received during crisis, and current and past psychiatric disorder over the follow up year

Findings

The results showed that 8% of the women had experienced an episode of depression in the past year. Nearly all of them (90%) had experienced stressful life events. 30% of the women who did not become depressed also experienced stressful life events.

It also found that social class played a role in depression risk, especially for women with children. Lower-class women with children were 4 times more likely to develop depression as compared to middle-class women with children.

Use

Social factors such as stressful life events play a significant role in depression. Lower-class women with children are more at risk of developing depression, as they’re more likely to face financial problems and other stressful situations. The study supports Brown and Harris’ Vulnerability Model in that individuals (like lower-class women with children) who have higher amounts of vulnerability factors and less protective factors were more likely to become depressed. Shows how the environmental and social factors play an important role in developing depression.

Strengths

Large sample size - allows for investigation of depression in wide range of individuals, this allows identification of factors such as social class which play a role in some individuals lives but not others

Actual social support received in crisis measured, rather than just social support. allows for more reliable info on level of social support.

Limitations

The study is correlational, so a causal relationship can’t be established between stressful life events and mental health issues.  The direction of causality could very well be in the opposite direction - suffering from a mental health issue could cause problems at work or in relationships, creating additional stressful events

Limited to north London women, indicating potential variations in results across genders, age, ethnicities