"I'm Not the Only One With Depression": Women's Perceptions of In-Person Group Formats of Depressive Symptom...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Traditional depression management often relies on in-person, group-based interventions.
• There is a growing demand for scalable, individual online formats for depression management.
• Limited research explores women's perspectives on depression management interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of pregnant and nonpregnant women with depressive symptoms in group-based interventions.
• To understand women's preferences regarding depression management formats.
• To identify key factors contributing to the effectiveness of group interventions for women's mental health.

Main Methods:

• Secondary qualitative data analysis using a phenomenological method.
• Analysis of data from 44 women with depressive symptoms who participated in mindful physical activity interventions.
• Exploration of themes related to the group format and intervention preferences.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: shared experiences fostered safety and impact, instructors were crucial for a safe environment, participants desired more interaction, and synchronous group formats were preferred over technology-based or asynchronous alternatives.
• Women with depression found synchronous group-based interventions beneficial due to shared experiences and a safe environment.
• Participants valued the connection and support derived from group interactions.

Conclusions:

• Synchronous group-based interventions are highly valued by women for depression management.
• Shared experiences and instructor-led safe environments are key components of effective group interventions for women.
• Future research should consider these factors when designing hybrid or online depression management formats.