University of Twente Student Theses
Ieder zijn eigen verhaal : een studie naar de invloed van Self Defining Memories in een life review interventie voor depressieve klachten
Harms, A.S. (2015) Ieder zijn eigen verhaal : een studie naar de invloed van Self Defining Memories in een life review interventie voor depressieve klachten.
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| Abstract: | Background. In the last years, depression has been considered as an increasing problem in the Netherlands. Especially adults between 40 and 65 years of age have a high prevalence on this disease. In response to this upcoming problem Bohlmeijer and Westerhof of the University of Twente developed the online life review intervention ‘Op Verhaal Komen’ for adults between 40 to 65 years of age experiencing light or moderate depressive symptoms. During a period of 12 weeks the participants answered life review questions in a narrative style. It seems that it is more difficult for people with depressive symptoms to remember specific memories (self defining memories) about past events. The goal of this study is to determine the relationship between self defining memories (with the dimensions specificity and meaning making) and depressive symptoms. It was expected that people with depressive symptoms report memories less integrative and less specific. Method. This study includes 19 participants from the population of the online life review intervention ‘Op Verhaal Komen’. The depressive symptoms were already measured through the CES-D questionnaire at four moments. By conducting a qualitative analysis, the written memories of the respondents were coded in the categories specificity and meaning making. Subsequently the two dimensions of Self defining memories specificity and meaning making were correlated with the CES-D- distinction score over a short-term and a long-term period. Lastly, a regression analysis was executed in order to determine the influence of the two dimensions on the depressive symptoms in the future. Furthermore the interaction of the two dimensions was determined. Results. The qualitative analysis shows significant effects in the frequencies of the distribution of the codes in the subcategories specific typ 1 en specific typ 2. In addition the results show a great variety in writing style so that there cannot be asserted any trend. A positive, significant correlation (bivariate) of the variables meaning making and the CES-D for the long-term and the short-term period was found. This result is also found in the regression analysis for the short period, but not for the long period. Conclusion: It seems that the qualitative analyze indicates personality traits of the respondents while the quantitative analyze doesn’t recognize this phenomena. This personality traits have also impact on the drop out behavior of the respondents from the intervention. In addition this study indicates that people with depressive symptoms have problems to process memories and show thus less integration in their narratives. For further research it would be interesting to explore the relation between personality traits, traumas and self defining memories in a qualitative way. Through developing personality traits the audience of the intervention can be adapted. Furthermore the narrative style is a good preparation for the respondents for future treatment following on the intervention. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/68330 |
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