Severe and nonsevere events in first onsets versus recurrences of depression: evidence for stress sensitization

Overall, research has evidenced support for Post's (1992) model, which asserts that the 1st episode of depression is more likely to be associated with severe life events than are subsequent episodes. In spite of this, there are significant gaps in the understanding of the stress-depression association. This study aimed to address three gaps by (a) identifying the explanatory model underlying the association (stress sensitization vs. stress autonomy), (b) elucidating how the role of stress changes with successive episodes, and (c) examining the role of nonsevere events. The impact and occurrence of severe and nonsevere events in a 5-year longitudinal study of late-adolescent women were examined using Cox regression models. Overall, we found support for the stress sensitization model over the stress autonomy model. Specifically, the impact of nonsevere (but not severe) events was greater in individuals with a history of depression compared with those with no history of depression. In addition, the occurrence of severe (but not nonsevere) events was greater for 1st onsets than recurrences. These effects were modified by event independence. The results were discussed in terms of the underlying mechanisms of the stress-depression association and future directions for research were elaborated.     

An integrative conceptual framework of disability. New directions for research

Advances in research on disability and rehabilitation are essential to creating equal opportunity, economic self-sufficiency, and full participation for persons with disabilities. Historically, such initiatives have focused on separate and specific areas, including neuroscience, molecular biology and genetics, gerontology, engineering and physical sciences, and social and behavioral sciences. Research on persons with disabilities should examine the broader context and trends of society that affect the total environment of persons with disabilities. This article examines the various disability paradigms across time, assessing the relative contribution of the socioecological perspective in guiding research designed to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. The authors recommend new research directions that include a focus on life span issues, biomedicine, biotechnology, the efficacy and effectiveness of current interventions, an emphasis on consumer-driven investigations within a socioecological perspective of disability, and the implications for research and practice.     

Can disability studies and psychology join hands?

Although the field of disabilities studies incorporates psychology within its interdisciplinary purview, it embodies a distinct perspective consonant with the new paradigm of disability. This perspective is contrasted with that of psychology, and the place of disability within psychology is examined. Although psychology has begun to embrace diversity, disability has remained marginalized. Four areas are presented in this article: (a) the foundational ideas of disability studies, (b) training in disability within psychology, (c) the paradigms of disability reflected in research on disability, and (d) future research directions.     

Life events and depression: The plot thickens

Although we certainly agree with Beck's original ideas that depression results from people's negative interpretations of events, unlike Beck we believe that many of the interpretations are not necessarily distortions. Awful and difficult events happen to many people, and many depressions are preceded by truly negative life stressors. We propose that stressors result both from fate and from human agency. And maybe we will get as much mileage from studies of individual differences in stress generation and stress resolution as from a previous round of studies of individual differences in cognitions about stress. How do people create and manage their environments? Just as the study of depression has profited enormously from exploring its antecedent social context, we propose that even stressful events need to be studied in context—especially the interpersonal and family context. These processes shift over time and have mutual influences on each other. This leads to some very complex multigenerational, historical, transactional, and cognitive models, and that is what I meant when I titled this work “the plot thickens.”     

Spiritual support in life threatening illness

This work evaluated the experiences of 45 patients of children with cancer and 101 cancer patients with their home pastors and hospital chaplains. The sttisfactions and difficulties enountered in these interactions are detailed, and recommendations are offered to aid persons in acute distress. Individuals in these circumstances appear to desire spiritual support more than evident psychologial aid, though the skillful use of the latter to understant the religious desires of the patients and parents is appreciated. It is also evident that pastors dealing which problems related to potential terminality are themselves under considerble stress.     

Physical Attractiveness,Dating Behavior,and Implications for Women

The primary objective of this study was to determine which of two sociological theories of dating preference was more powerful in predicting women's actual dating frequency. The two theories tested were Waller's theory, which emphasizes physical attractiveness, and Blood's theory, which emphasizes personality. The present study supported Waller's theory. Discussion and implications for women and counselors are presented.