Women's Conceptions of Coping with Major Depression in Daily Life: A Qualitative, Salutogenic Approach
Abstract
The experience of having a severe disease such as major depression affects all aspects of the individual's life, including family, work, and social functioning. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe, from a salutogenic approach, women's conceptions of coping with major depression in daily life with the help of professional and lay support. Thirteen women, previously hospitalized for major depression, were included in the study. The women were selected by strategic sampling, and data were analyzed by application of a phenomenographic approach. Four descriptive categories emerged: Self-Healing, Managing, Receiving Social Support, and Finding Meaning. While working their way out of the depression, the women needed to undergo a process of transition, involving both a cognitive and an emotional understanding, which they subsequently translated into health-related actions. The task of psychiatric mental health nurses is to provide care that empowers patients. Future nursing research should explore the circumstances that empower these women to start the transition process, as this process appears to be vital for recovery from major depression.
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Similar coping strategies have been reported in other qualitative studies of depression.
“Similar coping strategies have been reported in other qualitative studies of depression [59–61].”
From Fear of depression recurrence among individuals with remitted depression: a qualitative interview study (2024) · cites this paper as [60]
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- Authors
- Skärsäter, I., Dencker, K., Bergbom, I., Häggström, L., & Fridlund, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Halmstad University (SE)
- Venue
- Issues in Mental Health Nursing
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2003-01
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 419-439
- ISSN
- 0161-2840 (ISSN-L)
- 1096-4673
- OpenAlex
- W2045302863
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Issues in Mental Health Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health, psychology, and well-being
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Health and Well-being Studies
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, women, coping, salutogenesis, professional support, self-healing, social support, meaning-making, transition processes, psychiatric nursing, patient empowerment, recovery
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Sampling Studies, Social Support, Health Behavior
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