Differences Between Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Coping Styles for Male and Female Patients with Major Depression

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of childhood traumas, determine their effects on coping skills, and assess gender specific differences in patients with major depression. Method: Fifty female and fifty male patients with unipolar depression were enrolled. All patients were administered sociodemographic a data form, the Beck Depression Inventory, and subjected to a COPE Scale. Experiences of childhood abuse and neglect were assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28). Results: First, female patients with childhood traumas were found to use emotion focused coping styles whereas, male patients used problem focused and less useful coping styles more frequently. Second, there were positive relationships between childhood trauma scores and depression severity, childhood sexual abuse, and emotion focused coping styles in both male and female groups according to correlation analyses. In addition, childhood traumas led to further modifications on coping styles in the male group. Finally, a multiple linear regression model was used to identify independent predictors of coping styles. For both men and women, it was shown that childhood sexual abuse was significantly and positively related to emotion focused coping styles. Depression severity was the other predictor for emotion focused coping styles and was less useful in only the male group. Conclusion: Increased information on childhood trauma history and gender specific coping strategies could help to identify individual's at risk for depression and/or predict response to treatment. Future studies should focus on the prospective investigation of potential predictors and mediators in this area.