Family Science
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2239
Formerly known as the Department of Family Studies.
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Item THE STATE OF GRADUATE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES: ELEVEN YEARS AND 200,000 STUDENTS(2020) DeYoung, Kathryn Alyce; Leslie, Leigh A; Shackman, Alexander J; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Graduate students are an essential part of the academic enterprise. Converging lines of evidence suggests that many graduate students experience high levels of emotional distress. Yet the true depth and breadth of this public health “crisis” has remained unclear. The present study used survey data collected from 187,427 American graduate students between 2008 and 2019 as part of the ACHA-NCHA II to demonstrate that moderate-to-severe emotional distress, psychiatric illness, and suicidality are common among graduate students. Remarkably nearly 1 in 3 students were diagnosed with or treated for one or more psychiatric disorders. Notably, every indicator of emotional distress and illness increased over the past decade, in some cases substantially, above and beyond contemporaneous shifts in demographic and institutional characteristics. This study represents the most comprehensive assessment to date, provides crucial information for refining research and policy, and sets the stage for efforts aimed at developing effective intervention strategies.Item Depression and Perception of Family Cohesion Levels and Social Support from Friends in Emerging Adulthood at a University Mental Health Clinic(2020) Roc, Sabrina; Barros, Patricia; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Emerging adulthood is identified as a period of transition and uncertainty that occurs between the stages of adolescence and adulthood, often from ages 18-25. During this period, mental health issues are quite prominent, especially symptoms of depression. Previous research has explored what can ease the stress of depressive symptoms, and social support has had resounding effects. The present study used secondary analysis of data from 372 therapy-seeking individuals at a university-based family clinic to evaluate how perceived levels of familial cohesion and social support from friends are associated with depressive symptoms during emerging adulthood and whether or not age moderated the association. The results of this study show significant associations between familial cohesion as predicted, and social support from friends but in an unexpected direction. Age did not appear to have any significant associations. Potential future research as well as clinical implications are discussed.Item VICTIM DEPRESSION, POSITIVE PARTNER BEHAVIOR, AND TYPE OF PARTNER AGGRESSION AS DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN’S STEPS TOWARD LEAVING AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP(2019) Thomas, Jannel; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study investigated factors associated with the degree to which victims of partner violence take steps toward leaving the relationship. It was a secondary analysis of clinic data from pre-therapy couple assessments of demographic characteristics; physical, psychological, and sexual partner aggression; victim depression; perpetrator positive partner behavior; and steps the victim took toward leaving. Females’ income and education were not associated with steps toward leaving. Physical, psychological, and sexual aggression were all associated with steps toward leaving. Greater depression was associated with more steps toward leaving and more positive partner behavior was associated with fewer steps toward leaving. Neither depression nor positive partner behavior moderated the association between physical or psychological aggression and steps toward leaving. The association between sexual aggression and steps toward leaving was positive when positive partner behavior was higher, but non-significant when positive partner behavior was lower. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.Item The Effect of Depression on Women's Contraceptive Behaviors and Teenage Pregnancy(2018) Vafai, Yassaman; Steinberg, Julia R.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Objective: The overall objective of this dissertation was to investigate the effect of depression on women’s contraceptive behaviors and teenage pregnancy. Methods: In the first study, the relationship between pre-abortion depressive symptoms and effectiveness level of contraceptive method chosen (low, moderately, or highly effective) after contraceptive counseling was examined using multinomial logistic regression in a group of women seeking abortion services. In the second study Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard of contraceptive method discontinuation and unintended pregnancy among women experiencing any current and past elevated depressive symptoms in reproductive health settings. The third study examined the association between first depressive episode relative to age at first sex, and the hazard of first teenage pregnancy among girls participating in the National Comorbidity Survey–Adolescent Supplement. Results: More pre-abortion depressive symptoms were associated with higher odds of choosing a low contraceptive method than a moderately or a highly effective contraceptive method. Compared to non-depressed women, women exposed to baseline and a history of elevated depressive symptoms and those exposed to a history of elevated depressive symptoms had 39% and 12% increased hazards of contraceptive method discontinuation respectively; though the associations were not statistically significant when examining all contraceptive methods together. These associations were significant among patch and the injectable users. Finally, adolescent girls whose first depressive episode occurred at the same age as their sexual debut had a higher likelihood of experiencing first teenage pregnancy (HR: 2.73, 95% CI 1.07, 6.97) than those experiencing no depression onset. Conclusion: This dissertation provides evidence for the critical role of timing of depression in determining women’s contraceptive behaviors and reproductive decisions. The findings collectively suggest that not only the presence or absence of depression, but also the time the condition manifests itself during the course of women’s live can predict women’s decisions surrounding contraceptive method choice, continuation, and pregnancy. Implications: The integration of mental and reproductive health as well as a more effective patient-physician communication are warranted in an effort to optimize pregnancy outcomes in women at risk for depression.Item Low-Income Mothers' Mental Health in the Context of Family Comorbidity(2013) Schroeder, Allison Lee; Roy, Kevin; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The present study utilized longitudinal ethnographic data from the Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study to analyze how low-income mothers construct meaning of and cope with mental health problems. The study focused on a subsample of 20 mothers with one or more mental health problems. Findings demonstrated the importance of family relationships and family comorbidity. Mothers often attributed mental health problems to problematic family relationships. Mothers also emphasized their children's health and well-being in assessing their own health. Their ability to care for their children shaped how they viewed themselves. A related feature of mothers' experience of mental health was cumulative disadvantage. Almost all of the mothers linked their mental health to one or more aspects of poverty. Finally, mothers employed a multiple strategies to cope with mental health problems, with mental health treatment being one strategy. Implications for research, policy, and clinical work were discussed.Item Couples' Depression Symptoms, Partners' Demand/Withdraw Communication, and Steps They Have Taken to End their Relationship, within a Clinic Population(2013) Ehlert, Nicole; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Research has consistently demonstrated an association between an individual's experience of depression and distress within their romantic relationship. Demand/withdraw communication has been identified as one possible mediator of this association, as depression has been shown to increase the likelihood that couples engage in this pattern, and this pattern has been shown to be destructive to a couple's relationship. Using the principles of family systems theory, this study examines whether depression may be associated with the dissolution of romantic relationships, using an Actor Partner Independence Model (APIM) analysis. The sample included couples who had sought therapy at the Center for Healthy Families at the University of Maryland. Results indicated both direct and indirect significant pathways between a partner's experience of depression and both partners taking steps toward leaving the relationship, with perceptions of demand / withdraw patterns as mediators. The study's findings have implications for clinical practice.Item Depression in One or Both Partners and the Efficacy of Couple Therapy(2010) Juzaitis, Leanne Marie; Epstein, Norman B; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Although considerable research has been conducted on common factors affecting individual therapy, little research has investigated common factors in couple therapy. The present study examines depression in one or both partners as one of the potential common client factors affecting couple therapy. The study uses data from 55 couples who sought therapy for relationship issues at a large university-based family therapy clinic that serves an ethnically diverse population. The results suggest that, at least within the range of depression represented in this couple and family therapy clinic sample, there is no difference in therapy outcome between couples experiencing mild depression and those with minimal to no depression. However, there was some evidence that therapy was less effective when the male partner suffered from depression. This study is important in redirecting the attention of couple therapists to males' depression as opposed to the traditional focus on females' depression.