Time Perspective in the relationship between trauma & depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What buffers low mood after stressful life experiences?
IRAS ID
196095
Contact name
Melanie Suettmann
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
It is known that trauma is a vulnerability factor for developing depression. Yet, not everyone having experienced stressful events goes on to develop depressive symptoms. Knowing what cushions the impact of trauma on individuals' mood is of importance to the NHS given that depression is one of the most commonly treated mental illnesses today. Identified buffers in this relationship may be used for early intervention targeted at individuals that have experienced trauma.
The proposed study aims to test 'Time Perspective' (TP) as a buffer between stressful life events and depression. TP measures the extent to which our current thinking and decision-making is orientated towards the past, present, as well as the future. TP may be relevant to depression in two ways: First, it has previously been shown that TP predicts personality traits and attitudes that may underpin depression, such as gregariousness and hopefulness towards the future. Second, other lines of research have identified variables that can buffer depression, such as nostalgia, which shares overlap with TP.
The benefit of TP over some more established predictors of depression, such as stressful life events on their own, is that unhelpful TP’s can be modified, making it a potential tool to be used in interventions for depression. The proposed research aims to investigate if TP does buffer the relationship between experienced trauma and depression in adults.
As a secondary question,emotional regulation (ER) will be investigated as a second buffer between trauma and depression as a comparison to TP in its ability to cushion the same relationship.
This research uses standardised & commonly used questionnaires. Clinicians in Primary Care services will be asked to recruit adult patients with current depression,or mixed anxiety and depression, in one of their routine clinics. Participants will then complete three surveys at home before completing two further measures in their next appointment.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
16/ES/0147
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion