Social support curbs depression among African-Americans

ANN ARBOR—When relatives offer social support during difficult times, African Americans report they feel less depressed.

But a new University of Michigan study indicates that familial support does not lessen the effects of financial strain on depressive symptoms. The study, appearing in the current issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family, explores the impact of adverse events on symptoms of depression and how relatives respond.

Individuals experiencing financial strain or a traumatic event (e.g., witnessing an accident or being physically threatened or assaulted) were likely to feel depressed and say that their relatives criticized them, made them feel tense and got on their nerves, said Linda Chatters, a U-M professor of public health and an associate professor of social work.

The study shows that the financial strain of not having enough money to pay bills had a strong, negative effect on the amount of social support offered by relatives. Specifically, respondents with money woes indicated that their relatives did not understand or appreciate them and could not be relied on for help.

"This particularly potent influence of financial strain on social support may be a reflection of overtaxed kinship-based support networks that are unable to meet the financial needs of individuals," Chatters said.

Chatters and co-authors Robert Taylor of the U-M School of Social Work and Karen Lincoln of the University of Washington used data from the National Co-morbidity Study to examine the relationships among stress, social support, negative interaction and mental health in a sample of 591 African-American men and women ages 18 to 54.

Other findings:

• Women reported fewer traumatic events, but more negative interactions with relatives and more depressive symptoms than men.

• Older African Americans experienced more financial strain and traumatic events than their younger counterparts.

• Individuals with higher levels of education reported less financial strain, but more traumatic events, compared to their less educated counterparts.

• Married individuals reported less financial strain, and fewer traumatic events, negative interactions with relatives and depressive symptoms than those who were not married.

Related links:

Chatters: http://www.ssw.umich.edu/faculty/profile-chatters.html

Taylor: http://www.ssw.umich.edu/faculty/profile-rjtaylor.html

Study: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00167.x