Brown Stephanie L, Brown R Michael, House James S, Smith Dylan M
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, University of Michigan, USA.
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2008 Jun;34(6):849-61. doi: 10.1177/0146167208314972. Epub 2008 Mar 14.
The present study examined the role of self-reported helping behavior in attenuating the helper's depression following spousal loss. Using archival data from the Changing Lives of Older Couples sample (N = 289), the study shows that among bereaved participants who had experienced high loss-related grief, helping behavior (providing instrumental support to others) was associated with an accelerated decline in depressive symptoms for the helper from 6 months to 18 months following spousal loss. This relationship between giving help and recovery from depression was independent of support received, as well as measured health, and interpersonal and demographic factors. Implications of these results for theoretical approaches to the study of close relationships and well-being are discussed.
本研究考察了自我报告的帮助行为在减轻配偶丧亡后帮助者抑郁方面的作用。利用来自“老年夫妻生活变化”样本（N = 289）的档案数据，该研究表明，在经历了与丧亲相关的高度悲痛的丧亲参与者中，帮助行为（为他人提供工具性支持）与配偶丧亡后6个月至18个月帮助者抑郁症状的加速减轻有关。给予帮助与从抑郁中恢复之间的这种关系独立于所获得的支持、所测量的健康状况以及人际和人口统计学因素。讨论了这些结果对亲密关系和幸福感研究的理论方法的启示。
