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Vulnerability to Depression: The Lack of Social Support does not Cause Depression

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The Origins of Depression: Current Concepts and Approaches

Part of the book series: Dahlem Workshop Reports Life Sciences Research Report ((DAHLEM LIFE,volume 26))

Abstract

It is commonly believed that the lack of social support is a cause of neurotic depression. The hypotheses to be tested are that this effect holds either independently or only in the presence of adversity. In cross-sectional studies, the expected association has repeatedly been demonstrated. But this means little for etiology, because of important reasons in the interpretation. A recent prospective longitudinal study has produced evidence for the overriding dominance of constitutional or personality attributes. In the face of adversity, these are much more powerful than the lack of supportive social relationships. Vulnerability to depression is more likely to reside within the individual than within his social environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Health and Medical Research Council, Social Psychiatry Research Unit, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2600, ACT, Australia

    A. S. Henderson

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  1. A. S. Henderson
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J. Angst

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© 1983 Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo: Springer-Verlag.

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Henderson, A.S. (1983). Vulnerability to Depression: The Lack of Social Support does not Cause Depression. In: Angst, J. (eds) The Origins of Depression: Current Concepts and Approaches. Dahlem Workshop Reports Life Sciences Research Report, vol 26. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69129-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69129-4_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-69131-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-69129-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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