A Phenomenological Exploration of the Experience and Understanding of Depression within a Sample of Young, Single, Latter-day Saint Women

dc.contributor.authorHarris, Jennifer M.en
dc.contributor.committeechairStith, Sandra M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMcCollum, Eric E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHuebner, Angela J.en
dc.contributor.departmentHuman Developmenten
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:34:01Zen
dc.date.adate2005-05-04en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:34:01Zen
dc.date.issued2005-04-20en
dc.date.rdate2005-05-04en
dc.date.sdate2005-04-22en
dc.description.abstractDepression is the black plague of the 21st Century, affecting twice as many women as men, and continuing to increase among the younger generations. Little research has been conducted looking at single, young adults with depression. In addition, more research is needed to look at how culture influences the struggle with depression. With both the prevalence of depression in young women increasing and the membership of the LDS Church on the rise, it is crucial that clergy and clinicians alike better understand the experience of young, single, LDS women struggling with depression. This study is a qualitative exploration of six young, single, LDS women's struggle with depression. Six young (24-31 years old), single, white, active LDS women living in the Washington DC metropolitan area participated in 60 to 90 minute long interviews. Using a qualitative method and phenomenological perspective this study describes what an episode of depression is like for, and how it is understood by, young, single, LDS women. Themes identified from the women's interviews included identifying that something was not quite right/ something was going wrong, faith attempts, internalizing and blaming self, awareness of the depression, reaching out, spreading the word, and lessons learned. Several of these themes corroborate with current literature about the experience of depression, while others are unique to these women. In addition to these themes, the poignant role of the LDS culture in these women's experience of struggling with depression is discussed. Acknowledgementsen
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-04222005-163314en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04222005-163314/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/31823en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartthesis1.pdfen
dc.relation.haspartthesis2.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectphenomenologyen
dc.subjectqualitativeen
dc.subjectcultureen
dc.subjectdepressionen
dc.subjectLDSen
dc.subjectWomenen
dc.titleA Phenomenological Exploration of the Experience and Understanding of Depression within a Sample of Young, Single, Latter-day Saint Womenen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineHuman Developmenten
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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