Impacts of perseverative coping on depression risk among young people living in poverty

Poverty is well-established a risk factor for depression, and Japan's relative poverty rate is higher than that of other countries. The dual-process theory of coping flexibility suggested that greater perseverative coping (i.e., continuing to employ ineffective coping strategies) leads to increased depressive symptoms. This study examines the relationship between perseverative coping and depression risk among young people living in poverty.

The participants were 1000 (500 males and 500 females) individuals living in poverty aged 18-24 years in Japan. Their socioeconomic status was controlled to some extent the sampling stage. The participants completed questionnaires on perseverative coping and depressive symptoms; 14 weeks later, they completed an additional questionnaire assessing depression risk.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that higher perseverative coping was associated with a higher risk of depression, even after controlling for the baseline depressive symptoms. Additionally, individuals living in poverty reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and perseverative coping than middle-/high-income individuals reported in a previous study.

Perseverative coping appears to be maladaptive, as higher perseverative coping was associated with an increased risk of depression among participants aged 18-24 years living in poverty. Interventions based on the dual-process theory may help predict and reduce depression risk. Based on our findings, we provide suggestions to reduce depression risk among young people living in poverty.