Depression following major life transitions in women: a review and theory
Depression can occur due to common major life transitions, such as giving birth, menopause, retirement, empty-nest transition, and midlife crisis. Although some of these transitions are perceived as positive (e.g., giving birth), they may still lead to depression. We conducted a systematic literat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications Inc.
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/76316/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76316/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76316/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76316/1/76316_Depression%20Following%20Major%20Life%20Transitions%20in%20Women.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/76316/2/76316_Depression%20Following%20Major%20Life%20Transitions%20in%20Women_SCOPUS.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/76316/13/76316_Depression%20Following_WOS%20in%20press.pdf |
| Summary: | Depression can occur due to common major life transitions, such as giving birth, menopause, retirement, empty-nest transition, and midlife crisis. Although some of these
transitions are perceived as positive (e.g., giving birth), they may still lead to depression.
We conducted a systematic literature review of the factors underlying the occurrence of
depression following major life transition in some individuals. This review shows that
major common life transitions can cause depression if they are sudden, major, and lead
to loss (or change) of life roles (e.g., no longer doing motherly or fatherly chores after
children leave family home). Accordingly, we provide a theoretical framework that explains
depression caused by transitions in women. One of the most potential therapeutic
methods of ameliorating depression associated with life transitions is either helping individuals accept their new roles (e.g., accepting new role as a mother to ameliorate postpartum depression symptoms) or providing them with novel life roles (e.g., volunteering
after retirement or children leave family home) may help them overcome their illness. |
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