Harris T, Brown G W, Bifulco A
Psychol Med. 1987 Feb;17(1):163-83. doi: 10.1017/s0033291700013064.
This paper addresses the critique which maintains that loss of parent in a sample of female adults plays no role in determining current depression over and above that of low social class position with which such loss is associated. It examines a series of variables which combine to determine current social class position and which seem to stem from lack of adequate replacement care following loss of mother. The experience of a premarital pregnancy and the way in which women cope with it emerge as critical in this process. The relationship of low social class to the onset of depression is discussed in the light of better-known vulnerability factors such as low confiding in, and undependability of, marital partner, employment outside the home and number of children. It is concluded that a current low social class position, far from explaining away the association between loss of mother and current depression, may itself be brought about by a chain of circumstances stemming from the loss. Once again, the quality of replacement care is shown to play a critical role.
本文回应了一种批评观点，该观点认为，在成年女性样本中，母亲的离世在决定当前抑郁状况方面，除了与低社会阶层地位（这种丧亲之痛与之相关）相关的因素外，并无其他作用。本文考察了一系列变量，这些变量共同决定了当前的社会阶层地位，而且似乎源于母亲离世后缺乏足够的替代照料。婚前怀孕的经历以及女性应对这种经历的方式在这一过程中显得至关重要。结合诸如对配偶缺乏信任、配偶不可靠、外出工作和子女数量等更为人熟知的脆弱性因素，探讨了低社会阶层与抑郁症发作之间的关系。研究得出结论，当前的低社会阶层地位远非能解释母亲离世与当前抑郁之间的关联，其本身可能是由丧亲引发的一系列情况所致。替代照料的质量再次被证明起着关键作用。
