Summary
The study reported in this article is part of a larger investigation of life events and depression approached from a multifactorial point of view. In total 83 patients, participating in a larger study of depression, have also participated in a study of parental rearing practices and of life events in relation to the onset of depression. From these patients information has also been obtained concerning the loss of a parent before the age of 15. In the present study patients (n=33) who had been reared by rejecting mothers have been compared for the report of life events with patients (n=28) reared by stimulating mothers. It was hypothesized that rejected patients would report fewer stressful events than stimulated patients before becoming depressed. The results supported this hypothesis to some extent. In fact, the rejected patients reported that they experienced fewer events, however categorized than the stimulated ones. In this series 11 patients had lost one parent before the age of 15. No significant or otherwise consistent differences were found compared with those patients who had not lost parents during childhood.
The results related to rearing practice are discussed in terms of individual vulnerability. Alternative explanations are also mentioned.
Zusammenfassung
Die vorliegende Arbeit ist Teil einer größeren Studie über Lebensereignisse und Depression aus einer multifaktoriellen Perspektive. Dreiundachtzig Patienten dieser Depressionsstudie nahmen an der Untersuchung über elterliche Erziehungsstile und Lebensereignisse in Bezug auf das Vorkommen von Depressionen teil. Diese Patientengruppe wurde zudem nach dem Verlust eines Elternteils im Alter bis 15 Jahren gefragt.
Von abweisenden Müttern erzogene Patienten (n=33) wurden mit von stimulierenden Müttern erzogenen Patienten in Bezug auf das Vorkommen von Lebensereignissen für die Zeit vor dem Erkranken verglichen. Es wurde die Hypothese aufgestellt, daß abweisend erzogene Patienten eine geringere Anzahl belastender Lebensereignisse angeben würden, verglichen mit stimulierend erzogenen Patienten. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen in gewissem Maße die Hypothese. Unabhängig von der Einteilung der Ereignisse berichten die abweisend Erzogenen über weniger Lebensereignisse. Elf Patienten dieser Serie hatten im Laufe der ersten fünfzehn Lebensjahre einen Elternteil verloren. Unterschiede zu den Patienten ohne Elternverlust ergaben sich nicht. Die Ergebnisse bezüglich der Erziehungsstile werden unter dem Aspekt der individuellen Vulnerabilität diskutiert. Außerdem werden alternative Erklärungen genannt.
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Supported (in part) by a grant from the Swedish Medical Research Council (grand no 5244)
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Perris, H. Deprivation in childhood and life events in depression. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 233, 489–498 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342788
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342788