LE3 .A278 2014

2014

Symons, Doug

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Psychology

Psychology

The present study examines the interrelations of depression, caregiving helplessness, and relationship indices in a sample of high psychosocial risk female caregivers and their young children (n=20). Attachment security, maternal sensitivity, and overall relationship harmony were based on home observations, and measures of depression, affective lability, and caregiving helplessness were self-report. The Adult Attachment Projective was used to determine adult attachment representation. Contrary to the first hypothesis, depression was not significantly negatively related to relationship measures, except when analyses were restricted to moderately depressed caregivers or those with children at least four years-old. The second hypothesis, that caregiving helplessness would mediate the relations between depression and relationship measures, was supported. Contrary to the third hypothesis, there were no differences between unresolved and resolved caregivers on any measures. There was some evidence that dismissing caregivers reported less emotional distress than preoccupied caregivers. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:335