|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
|
Social Class and Psychiatric Disturbance among Women in an Urban Population
George W. Brown
Bedford College, London
Maire Ni Bhrolchain
Nuffield College, Oxford
Tirril Harris
Social Research Unit, Bedford College
While an association between social status and prevalence of psychiatric disurbance has often been reported, little has been established about aetiology or its significance for social class differences. In a survey of a random sample of women living in south London a large class difference in the prevalence of psychiatric disturbance was found. This difference is particularly great among women with young children at home. This paper examines why working class women have a greater prevalence of (i) conditions with an onset in the year before interview and (ii) conditions that have lasted longer than one year. Severe life-events and major long term difficulties occurring in the year before onset play an important aetiological role. However although these aetiological agents are more common among working class women, they only explain a small part of the social class differences. The class difference is essentially due not to the greater frequency of events and difficulties but to the much greater likelihood of working class women breaking down once one of these has occurred; this greater vulnerability is shown to relate to certain social factors. The greater likelihood of working class women suffering from chronic psychiatric disturbance is also shown to relate to environmental differences. Results for a series of depressive patients treated by psychiatrists support these interpretations; but it is necessary to take into account `treatment seeking' factors.
Sociology, Vol. 9, No. 2,
225-254 (1975)
DOI: 10.1177/003803857500900203
 CiteULike  Complore  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
I. D. Montoya and V. Brown
Welfare Shame, Economic Hardship, and Drug Use: Their Relationship to the Psychological Distress Observed in TANF Recipients
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association,
November 1, 2007;
13(5):
275 - 284.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Catty, K. Goddard, and T. Burns
Social Services and Health Services Day Care in Mental Health: The Social Networks and Care Needs of their Users
International Journal of Social Psychiatry,
March 1, 2005;
51(1):
23 - 34.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.-J. Jun, S.V. Subramanian, S. Gortmaker, and I. Kawachi
Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Parenting Responsibility, and Women's Smoking in the United States
Am J Public Health,
December 1, 2004;
94(12):
2170 - 2176.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Korkeila, V. Lehtinen, R. Bijl, O.-S. Dalgard, V. Kovess, A. Morgan, and H. J. Salize
Review Article: Establishing a set of mental health indicators for Europe
Scand J Public Health,
December 1, 2003;
31(6):
451 - 459.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Lev-Wiesel and M. Amir
The Effects of Similarity Versus Dissimilarity of Spouses' Traumatic Childhood Events on Psychological Well-Being and Marital Quality
Journal of Family Issues,
September 1, 2003;
24(6):
737 - 752.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. G. Maunder and J. J. Hunter
Attachment and Psychosomatic Medicine: Developmental Contributions to Stress and Disease
Psychosom Med,
July 1, 2001;
63(4):
556 - 567.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. W. BARNETT
Why Battered Women Do Not Leave, Part 1: External Inhibiting Factors Within Society
Trauma Violence Abuse,
October 1, 2000;
1(4):
343 - 372.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. J. Prager and D. Buhrmester
Intimacy and Need Fulfillment in Couple Relationships
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,
August 1, 1998;
15(4):
435 - 469.
[Abstract]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. W. Gallagher, S. E. Hobfoll, C. Ritter, and J. Lavin
Marriage, Intimate Support and Depression during Pregnancy: A Study of Inner-City Women
J Health Psychol,
October 1, 1997;
2(4):
457 - 469.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Spiro and L. Swartz
Mothers' Reports of Behaviour Problems in Three Groups of South African Preschool Children: Prevalence, Perceptions, and Management Strategies
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology,
September 1, 1994;
25(3):
339 - 352.
[Abstract]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Delamont
Review Symposium
Sociology,
February 1, 1994;
28(1):
305 - 308.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bibliography
Current Sociology,
September 1, 1991;
39(2):
83 - 115.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Dew, M. V. Ragni, and P. Nimorwicz
Infection With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Vulnerability to Psychiatric Distress: A Study of Men With Hemophilia
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
August 1, 1990;
47(8):
737 - 744.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Bartholomew
Avoidance of Intimacy: An Attachment Perspective
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,
May 1, 1990;
7(2):
147 - 178.
[Abstract]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Donini, A. Rizzetto, U. Galvan, and C. Zimmermann-Tansella
The Perception of Social Problems By Husbands and Wives in the Community
International Journal of Social Psychiatry,
March 1, 1990;
36(1):
3 - 10.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. B. Jackson, M. Dougherty, and J. M. Cardea
Social Support and Life Satisfaction of Black Climacteric Women
West J Nurs Res,
February 1, 1990;
12(1):
9 - 27.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Jones
Effect of Unemployment on Women
Affilia,
December 1, 1989;
4(4):
54 - 67.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Duffy, A. L. Whall, N. F. Woods, and M. E. Duffy
The Primary Support Received by Recently Divorced Mothers
West J Nurs Res,
December 1, 1989;
11(6):
676 - 693.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Mor-Barak
Support systems intervention in crisis situations: theory, strategies and a case illustration
International Social Work,
October 1, 1988;
31(4):
285 - 304.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T.I. Oei
Psychic Coping Behaviour and the Role of Social Support
International Journal of Social Psychiatry,
March 1, 1987;
33(1):
5 - 12.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. A. Murphy, J. S. Norbeck, C. Weinert, J. M. Cardea, and E. R. Lenz
Self-Efficacy and Social Support: Mediators of Stress on Mental Health Following a Natural Disaster
West J Nurs Res,
February 1, 1987;
9(1):
58 - 86.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. McKee and R. Vilhjalmsson
Life Stress, Vulnerability, and Depression: A Methodological Critique of Brown et al.
Sociology,
November 1, 1986;
20(4):
589 - 599.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Parry and D. A. Shapiro
Social Support and Life Events in Working Class Women: Stress Buffering or Independent Effects?
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
April 1, 1986;
43(4):
315 - 323.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A.-M. Ambert and J.-F. Saucier
Adolescents' Overt Religiosity and Parents' Marital Status
International Journal of Comparative Sociology,
January 1, 1986;
27(1-2):
87 - 95.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Roy
Early Parental Separation and Adult Depression
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
October 1, 1985;
42(10):
987 - 991.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Puig-Antich, E. Lukens, M. Davies, D. Goetz, J. Brennan-Quattrock, and G. Todak
Psychosocial Functioning in Prepubertal Major Depressive Disorders: II. Interpersonal Relationships After Sustained Recovery From Affective Episode
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
May 1, 1985;
42(5):
511 - 517.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O.O. Famuyiwa and M.A. Olatokunbo
Social Networks of Nigerian Psychiatric Patients
International Journal of Social Psychiatry,
June 1, 1984;
30(3):
231 - 239.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Hersey, L. S. Klibanoff, D. J. Lam, and R. L. Taylor
Promoting Social Support: The Impact of California's "Friends Can be Good Medicine" Campaign
Health Educ Behav,
January 1, 1984;
11(3):
293 - 311.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. E. West and R. L. Simons
Sex Differences in Stress, Coping Resources, and Illness among the Elderly
Research on Aging,
June 1, 1983;
5(2):
235 - 268.
[Abstract]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. D. COLLETTA and D. LEE
The Impact of Support for Black Adolescent Mothers
Journal of Family Issues,
March 1, 1983;
4(1):
127 - 143.
[Abstract]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Stravynski, I. Marks, and W. Yule
Social Skills Problems in Neurotic Outpatients: Social Skills Training With and Without Cognitive Modification
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
December 1, 1982;
39(12):
1378 - 1385.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Williams
Causality, Morality, and Radicalism: A Sociological Examination of the Work of George Brown and his Colleagues
Sociology,
February 1, 1982;
16(1):
67 - 84.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. A. Hirschfeld and C. K. Cross
Epidemiology of Affective Disorders: Psychosocial Risk Factors
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
January 1, 1982;
39(1):
35 - 46.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Roy
Depression in the Course of Chronic Undifferentiated Schizophrenia
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
March 1, 1981;
38(3):
296 - 297.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. J. Horowitz, J. Krupnick, N. Kaltreider, N. Wilner, A. Leong, and C. Marmar
Initial Psychological Response to Parental Death
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
March 1, 1981;
38(3):
316 - 323.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. E. Luria and R. Berry
Reliability and Descriptive Validity of PSE Syndromes
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
October 1, 1979;
36(11):
1187 - 1195.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Bain
The Capacity of Families to Cope with Transitions: A Theoretical Essay
Human Relations,
August 1, 1978;
31(8):
675 - 688.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Stacey and H. Homans
The Sociology of Health and Illness: Its Present State, Future Prospects and Potential for Health Research
Sociology,
May 1, 1978;
12(2):
281 - 307.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. W. Brown, M. N. Bhrolchain, and T. Harris
A Study of Depression in Women: A Reply to Keith Hope's Critical Note
Sociology,
September 1, 1977;
11(3):
527 - 531.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. M. Weissman and G. L. Klerman
Sex Differences and the Epidemiology of Depression
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
January 1, 1977;
34(1):
98 - 111.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
