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Presentation: Sociocultural and MDD

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  • Presentation: Sociocultural and MDD

The following presentation supports the study of the sociocultural etiologies of Major Depressive Disorder

You are not expected to learn all of the material in this presentation.  When using this study for revision, remember to:

  • Focus on key concepts
  • Learn 2 - 3 studies that you feel you understand.  You may also, instead, learn studies from the textbook or from your teacher.
  • Focus on key evaluation points

Evaluation of sociocultural etiologies

Evaluation of sociocultural theories of depression

Strengths

Explains differences in both prevalence rates and the manifestation of symptoms across cultures and gender.

Research takes a holistic approach to the individual and identifies risk factors - with a stress on prevention rather than treatment.

Studies typically have high ecological validity.

Several studies are prospective and longitudinal in nature. In addition, researchers often employ triangulation to increase credibility.

The studies are supported by modern genetics and our understandings of the role of cortisol in depression.

Limitations

Research is correlational in nature - so cause and effect relationships cannot be determined.

The theories are descriptive rather than explanatory in nature. They do not explain the actual origin of the disorder.

Research does not isolate individual variables that may lead to the disorder.

There is some disagreement about measuring different constructs such as stress or one's level of social support.

Cross-cultural research is problematic.  Etic approaches are criticized for being too ethnocentric. Emic approaches make a comparison of the disorders difficult.

text

Checking for understanding

1. What is meant by "protective factors?"

Protective factors are resources that help an individual to cope with stressors.  These include safe neighborhoods, supportive family, stable income and health resources in the community.

2. According to Brown & Harris, why are women more likely to suffer from depression?

Because women have more risk factors - that is, they are more likely to experience negative life stress events and thus demonstrate symptoms of depression.

3. What is the Diathesis-Stress Model of depression?

This is the theory that it is the interaction of environmental stressors together with genetic predisposition that lead to the disorder.

4. What is meant by the statement that Western society has applied an "etic" approach to diagnosis of disorders?

This means that they have used the DSM or other Western criteria for diagnosing and determining whether depression exists within the society, rather than finding out of there is a similar disorder that may have slightly different symptoms.

5. According to Kirmayer, Okello and Watters, why is it important to understand explanatory models of depression?

Because the symptoms and behaviours are understand by the local community and they have developed strategies for dealing with them.  By introducing new symptoms or changing the approaches to treatment based on our own culture, we disrupt how a culture has learned to cope with psychological distress.