Features of social support for patients with depressive disorders, taking into account age and gender factor

Abstract

The features of social support for patients with depressive disorders were studied taking into account age and gender factor. Clinical and psychological examination of 107 men and 138 women with depressive disorders revealed a low level of social support from family, friends and significant others. The highest level of social support for patients was found from friends, slightly lower – from family, and the lowest – from significant others. The indicators of social support in all spheres decrease with age; they are maximum at the age under 30 years, and the minimum at the age 45 years and older. Women enjoy greater social support from family, friends, and significant others than men, but these differences were statistically significant only in the younger age group (under 30 years). An inverse correlation was found between psychopathological symptoms and the level of social support of family, friends and significant others. The correlation is weak or moderate (correlation coefficients up to 0.551), which indicates complex patterns of social support for patients with depressive disorders.