Depression Social Psychology - Research Paper Example

?Running head: RESEARCH CRITIQUE Depression Social Psychology: Research Study Critique (school) Depression Social Psychology: Research Study Critique I. Introduction Depression is one of the most common mental health illnesses known to man. It is often crippling in its impact on the patient and it can cause the onset of other mental health issues (Beck and Alford, 2009). Numerous studies have been carried out on this mental health disease, and many of them have sought to evaluate and investigate the causes, symptoms, impact, and treatment for this disease. The need to review the validity and reliability of these studies is an important part of evidence-based practice (Petr, 2008). With higher credibility in research, better outcomes in evidence-based practice can be gained. This paper shall present a critique of a study involving depression. The study is entitled: ‘The Role of Sense of Belonging and Social Support on Stress and Depression in Individuals with Depression’ by Chanokruthai Choenarom, Reg Arthur Williams, and Bonnie M. Hagerty. This critique shall cover the study and its literature review, its, methods, results, and discussion. The title of this study is descriptive and representative of the main problem discussed and resolved within the research. It is short enough to present main points in the study, but also comprehensive enough to provide a clear representation of the research. The theoretical background for the research problem has been properly laid out, providing enough material from where the research problems can be extracted. The research questions are current and relevant to the mental health practice. The authors are credible researchers and practitioners in the field of mental health and have had the academic background and expertise to be qualified as reliable researchers. This study has also been published in a reliable peer-reviewed journal which bolsters its reliability as a peer-reviewed research. II. Literature Review The literature review presented numerous studies which relate to the research question. It provided details on each of these studies – on their results, as well as their limitations. Some of these limitations now form the basis of the research being reviewed. The literature review also presented studies which were properly organized and grouped based on the research questions and variables being measured. The organization of these studies was in accordance with the overall research goals, ensuring a clear and comprehensive background for the entire research problem and subsequent analysis. All of the studies cited were relevant to the research and all contributed to the general knowledge about depression, as well as the impact of the sense of belong and social support on this mental health condition. Some of the studies cited were however not current, as they dated as far back as 1968. To some extent, outdated researches often reduce the applicability of their results to the current setting, especially in relation to constantly changing human behavior and general health (Gallin, 2002). Nevertheless, most of the research works cited in the review were current and were within the 10 year period prior to the publication of the research subject of this review. The review was also presented in a logical and orderly fashion which naturally flowed from the text, with proper links and transitions. There was congruity to the review of related literature, one which was aligned with the rest of the research. The review also presented a well-balanced outlook of the study, detailing how, in most instances, the sense of belonging and social support may impact on depression and in other instances, how they may not significantly impact on depression. All the studies are critically assessed by the authors with appropriate evaluation on study results as well the credibility and reliability of their methodology. The analysis was well-balanced with appropriate support from other similar studies. The studies included in the review were also mainly primary sources and were empirical. The studies were highly relevant to the research topic. A discussion specifically on perceived stress was presented with a definition initially and clearly presented. These studies discussed how perceived stress can cause depression and how the high level of depression can have a significantly negative impact on a person’s life. The studies cited also discussed how higher degrees of depression can be more apparent for some professions and some high risk adolescents. The authors were also able to carry out an analysis of studies which relate to the sense of belongingness and its impact on a person’s depression. Once again, a definition for sense of belongingness was presented by the authors, followed by a series of studies which discussed how the lack of belongingness can sometimes lead to depression. The authors cited studies which revealed how the lack of a sense of belongingness can be a significant precursor to the depression, and how a strong sense of belongingness psychologically and socially can promote better societal and personal functioning for most people. All in all, the studies cited how the sense of belongingness can play a crucial role in managing a person’s depression. Studies which related to social support were also discussed, with a definition of the term initially presented. Social support, based on the studies included in the review is a factor which seems to lessen the occurrence of depression and improves a person’s ability to cope. The review presented social support as a moderator and as a factor which alleviates the impact of stressful events in a person’s life. Spousal support was also considered in this review as an element factoring on depression. With a higher level of spousal support, lesser incidents and levels of depression is often apparent. There seems to be an inverse relationship between depression and spousal support; and it is an element which is also very much related to the family setting, with those having a more stable family life enjoying stronger coping methods as well as a decreased incidence of depression. III. Methods The authors detailed the research methods and statistical approaches which they applied in the research. The authors specified that their study was a longitudinal, correlational, and comparative study which was meant to compare patients diagnosed with depression and those with no history of depression. This is an appropriate method for this study because it has allowed for an analysis of the factors impacting on depression, with an analysis made in relation to patients who were not depressed. The comparison allowed for an analysis of the elements observed in factors weighing on depressed patients, analyzing them in terms of how far they impact on overall human behavior. This paper is a quantitative research study with its concentration on the measurement and the amounts of the qualities manifested by people or events being studied (Thomas, 2003). Variables being studied in this paper include depression in general and other variables impacting on depression. With these variables including: the sense of belonging, social support, and spousal support. These chosen variables were appropriate because they provided an adequate measure of elements impacting on depression (Thomas, 2003). Through these variables, this longitudinal study was carried out based on specific qualities and elements. The respondents were purposely selected and recruited from a mood disorder clinic, a general psychiatric outpatient clinic, and a geriatric clinic at a Midwestern university. This method of choosing respondents was appropriate for this study because specific qualities of depression must be found in the respondents (Biemer and Lyberg, 2003). Random sampling, which is the best sampling method for research is not appropriate for this research because it would have been tedious and impractical (Biemer and Lyberg, 2003). The population of respondents was a very small and specific population. Applying random sampling would not have impacted significantly on the validity of the sample population. Potential respondents were evaluated through telephone screenings. The telephone screenings were appropriate for the screening of the respondents (Hakim, 2000). Narrowing them down included an assessment of compliance with inclusion criteria and the telephone surveys are the least tedious and least expensive means of chosen for this process (Hakim, 2000). It was also a convenient process for both the researchers and the respondents. Questionnaires were distributed to the respondents at various periods of the longitudinal research process. Questionnaires are effective means of data gathering because they are specific, convenient, and highly focused on research goals (Spector, 1994). Since the variables were to be evaluated in a 9-month period, the use of the questionnaire was a consistent method of data gathering. Appropriate ethical processes were applied by the authors with informed consent properly observed. In any research process, informed consent is a crucial ethical requirement (Joffe, Cooke, Clearey, Clark, and Weeks, 2001). Informed consent is the process of informing the respondent about the specific details of the research, its purpose, their participation in the research, how their answers would be treated, how their confidentiality would be protected, and all possible risks which may arise from their participation in the research (Joffe, et.al., 2001). Moreover, the entire process of gaining informed consent must be carried out in a language understood by the respondent. Proper instructions were clearly communicated with the respondents with follow-ups carried out by the researchers (Joffe, et.al., 2001). Assumptions for this study were drawn from previously accepted beliefs about depression and its relationship with the emotional and psychological well-being of a person. The t-tests and chi-square statistical measures were applied for this study; moreover, regression tests and residual analysis were also applied by the authors. Data were assessed based on statistical model fit for the study respondents. These statistical tools were appropriately varied as they provided a diverse range of measures for the variables. Each tool was appropriately chosen for each variable being measured. These tools yielded logical and statistically viable results. The results of the study were also clearly shown through tables which indicate summarized results which can be easily understood and appreciated by the reader. These tables are organized and presented based on the variable being analyzed. IV. Results The results revealed that there is a mediation effect on the sense of belongingness and perceived social support on the link between perceived stress and depression in the depressed group. Spousal support did not have a direct effect on stress and depression; moreover, for the nondepressed group, perceived stress did not correlate with the manifestations of depression. Measures of variance revealed that higher levels of stress and a lower sense of belonging impacted significantly on the level of depression. Social support and spousal support only represented indirect effects which were not consistent in the 9-month study period. The results emphasized the importance of stress reappraisal and promoting a sense of belongingness in order to decrease depression. These results were appropriate and were well-supported by the statistical tools and data presented. They flowed logically from the research question and onto the data results, and finally into the analysis. There were no logical fallacies drawn from the data analysis as all results were sufficiently supported by research data. The interpretation of the results was also appropriate and was very much sufficient. Each element of variable in the study was specifically addressed all throughout the paper. No gaps in the analysis were seen, and the authors were thorough enough in their analysis to detail each variable in terms of their negative or positive impact on depression. The authors rightly acknowledged some limitations in their study. They mentioned that given the correlational design method applied in their research, the results of the study must be evaluated according to prediction, not causation. In assessing modifying elements, the homogeneous nature of the sample may lead to gaps in other variables. Lastly, the generalizability of the research results may be limited because the respondents were recruited from a university center and its surrounding area. These limitations however do not significantly impact on the study results. Nevertheless, the authors note the importance of making appropriate adjustments in future similar studies. V. Discussion All in all, this research was very efficient. It was very organized in terms of breaking down the research question. This breakdown of variables was followed all throughout the research, providing a smooth and logical flow of ideas from one section of the research to another. The study also appropriately applied the statistical tools for the data analysis, which effectively processed the various numerical data into a coherent and encompassing whole. The strength of this study also flowed from its research results, which were supported by previous studies and literature on the subject matter. Weaknesses of this study mostly refer to the limited generalizability of the results due to the respondent coverage within one area only. The form and structure of this research was strongly appropriate. It followed an orderly research form as well as substantial research elements. The reference page also detailed the materials used in the text. The citation style was appropriate and was contributory to the validity and reliability of the paper. These materials chosen were all peer-reviewed and reliable journals, books, statistical surveys, and government reports which all lend to the overall credibility of this study. Other possible directions which could have been discussed by the authors would have been the inclusion of cultural themes and religious undertones in the manifestation of depression. These elements are also probable variables which impact on depression. Detailing these variables in the research would have provided a more comprehensive analysis for this subject matter. The future directions for research provided by the author are also logical recommendations because they are based on the gaps which were discovered during the research process. These recommendations are also significant recommendations which are meant to assist in the improvement of the health practice in general. Reference Beck, A. & Alford, B. (2009). Depression: causes and treatments. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. Biemer, P. & Lyberg, L. (2003). Introduction to survey quality. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Choenarom, C., Williams, R., & Hagerty, B. (2005). The Role of Sense of Belonging and Social Support on Stress and Depression in Individuals With Depression. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 19(1), pp 18–29. Gallin, J. (2002). Principles and practice of clinical research. New York: Academic Press. Hakim, C. (2000). Research design: successful designs for social and economic research. New York: Routledge. Joffe, S., Cook, E., Cleary, P., Clark, J. & Weeks, J. (2001). Quality of Informed Consent: a New Measure of Understanding Among Research Subjects. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst, 93 (2), pp. 139-147. Petr, C. (2008). Multidimensional evidence-based practice: synthesizing knowledge, research and values. California: Taylor & Francis. Spector, P. (1994). Using self-report questionnaires in OB research: a comment on the use of a controversial method. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 15(5), 385-392. Thomas, R. (2003). Blending qualitative & quantitative research methods in theses and dissertations. New York: Corwin Press. Read More