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Investigation of a Developmental Model of Risk for Depression and Suicidality Following Spousal Bereavement
Author(s) -
Johnson Jeffrey G.,
Zhang Baohui,
Prigerson Holly G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2008.38.1.1
Subject(s) - spouse , suicidal ideation , depression (economics) , suicide prevention , psychiatry , psychology , poison control , clinical psychology , injury prevention , depressive symptoms , affection , medicine , medical emergency , cognition , social psychology , sociology , anthropology , economics , macroeconomics
Data from a community‐based multi‐wave investigation were used to examine a developmental model of risk for depression and suicidality following the death of a spouse. Measures of perceived parental affection and control during childhood were administered to 218 widowed adults 11 months after the death of the spouse. Self‐esteem, spousal dependency, depression, and suicidality were assessed 9 months later. Dependency on the deceased spouse mediated a significant association between retrospectively reported parental control during childhood and post‐loss depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms mediated significant associations of dependency on the deceased spouse and low self‐esteem with suicidal ideation and behavior.