Repertoires of response to potential precipitants of depression

A study that would appear to overcome two weaknesses in previous investigations of what have been termed 'antidepressive behaviours' is reported, from patients routinely attending two general practices. Questionnaires were designed to measure such behaviours and their reported effectiveness in response to potential precipitants of depression. While the subjects revealed no sex differences on a trait depression measure, in previous recourse to professional help for depression, or in their appraisal of two given situations, a number of sex differences in their reported antidepressive responses were found. Females scored as less reckless, and they scored higher on help-seeking and self-consolation dimensions ; they were also less likely to regard reckless behaviours as being effective. Higher social class was associated with higher scores on the self-consolation behavioural dimension and in higher scores on socializing. Younger subjects scored higher on socializing and found reckless behaviours more effective than did the older subjects.