Family support and depression

High levels of support from one's family are associated with a more rapid recovery from depression while low levels are linked to people being ill for longer. However, there have been few long-term studies into this issue. Researchers from Stanford University studied 373 depressed people over a 23-year period. They found that higher family support was associated with less severe depression at the start of the study and a quicker recovery over the 23-year period. Women with supportive families reported the most rapid recovery from depression.

Kamen, Charles - Family Support and Depressive Symptoms: A 23-Year Follow-Up Journal of Clinical Psychology, Vol. 67(3), 215-223 (2011)