Perceived social support and coping strategies in patients with depression: A longitudinal study

When the etiology of major depression is examined, the existence of psychosocial factors is undeniably important. Inadequate social support and use of dysfunctional coping strategies are psychosocial factors that play a role in the etiology of depression. This study investigated the perceived social support and coping strategies in patients with depression and whether they change with remission.

Both cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys were conducted.

This study included 50 patients in the active phase of a major depressive disorder, 30 patients in the remission of depression, and 50 healthy controls. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Assessment Scale for Coping Attitudes (COPE) were applied to all subjects. The same scales were repeated in 20 patients, who were in the active phase of depression at the beginning of the study and were in remission after approximately 3 years of follow-up. Psychometric test scores of three groups were compared with one-way ANOVA test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and post hoc tests. In the longitudinal analysis, the paired t-test and Wilcoxon tests were used.

The patients' perceived social support scores were lower than the remission and control groups (p < .001). The total scores of non-functional coping attitudes of both the patient and remission groups were higher than those of the control group (p < .001 and <.001). The problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping total subscale scores of the patient group were found to be lower than both the remission group (p < .001 and <.001) and the control group (p = .001 and .001). When the follow-up patients were evaluated while in remission, perceived social support scores increased compared to those in the active phase (p = .008 for total social support score). Non-functional coping scores decreased (p = .023). Perceived social support level associated with problem-focused and emotion-focused coping attitudes.

The prognosis of depression might be affected by the perception of social support and coping attitudes.