MINNEAPOLIS—September 28, 2009—The latest research from Family Relations shows that parents in low-income environments are more prone to depression when there is a lack of social support. This is especially prevalent in rural regions, where mental health and social resources can be deficient.
Social support mechanisms such as community groups, churches, and school or sports-related activities, can act as a barrier against negative thinking and allow parents who are prone to depression, in order to make better, more positive choices and engage in healthy parental practices.
The findings support a holistic care plan for families in need, combining skill-based interventions with social recommendations. These measures may help to decrease the detrimental effects of economic stress on individual and family functioning.
This study is published in the October 2009 issue of Family Relations. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact scholarlynews@wiley.com.
To view the abstract for this article, please visit: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122607673/abstract
Lead researcher Dr. Chih-Yuan Steven Lee is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He can be reached for questions at leex1235@umn.edu.
About the Journal: A premier, applied journal of family studies, Family Relations is mandatory reading for family scholars and all professionals who work with families, including: family practitioners, educators, marriage and family therapists, researchers, and social policy specialists. The journal's content emphasizes family research with implications for intervention, education, and public policy, always publishing original, innovative and interdisciplinary works with specific recommendations for practice.
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Family Relations