Title

The Social Problem of Depression: A Multi-Theoretical Analysis

Publication Date

2003

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the social problem of depression from a multi-theoretical perspective. It explores depression through the lens of two psychologically based theories of human behavior, existential theory and cognitive theory, as well as through the vehicle of two sociological theories, Marxist theory and the theory of oppression. By understanding how each of these theories explains depression, social workers may be helped to see the complexity of treating the problem. It is the belief of the authors that social work literature, which is often dominated by reductionist, quantitatively- based research studies, has increasingly ignored theoretical explorations of key social problems such as depression, to the determent of the profession and the disciplines which inform it.

Publication Title

Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare

Volume

15

Issue

3

First Page

123

Last Page

137

Publisher Policy

no SHERPA/RoMEO policy available

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