School of Public Health

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.

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The Role of Depression, Social Support, and Gender in an Individual's Decision to Leave an Emotionally Abusive Relationship
(2006-01-19) Mitchell, Danielle Lynn; Leslie, Dr. Leigh; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
This study explored the relationship between depression, the social support of friends and family, gender, and the steps an individual takes to leave an emotionally abusive relationship. A primary analysis was run on 424 individuals who presented for couples therapy at a university based clinic. Results indicated that depression was positively associated with taking more steps to leave an emotionally abusive relationship for both genders. Family support was not associated with steps to leave for either gender; however, social support of friends was negatively associated with steps to leave for females only. Social support only moderated the relationship between depression and steps to leave for females with higher depression levels in the sample. A secondary analysis indicated that severity of abuse had the strongest association with steps to leave the relationship. The results have important implications on how depression and social support are treated in emotionally abused individuals.