This research will be one of the first projects to consider the influence of optimistic bias on women’s perceptions of their risk of depression within the Australian community. As such this study will make a number of important contributions to the scientific literature while facilitating a range of applied applications.
Firstly, the present study will contribute important information to the debate surrounding the differences and similarities in conceptualisations of mental and
physical illnesses. A more detailed examination of these conceptualisations will involve consideration of the influence of optimistic bias and perception of risk of illness. While a number of factors have been identified within the physical health literature as critical influences for perception of risk, this study will explore the relevance of such factors including perceived control and knowledge of the illness to mental health, in particular to depression. The implications of this exploration include developing an understanding of the intrinsically subjective nature of perception of risk and it’s variability across a range of illnesses.
Secondly, this study will explore the link between subjective perception of risk and depression and examine the influence of optimistic bias in relation to women’s self- evaluation of their perception of risk of depression. This study will extend knowledge of the concept of optimistic bias by testing the predictive capacity of the phenomenon in relation to depression as a series of semi-independent constructs and / or as a more global personality construct.
Thirdly, this research will examine the key components of women’s perception of their risk of experiencing depression and allow for an investigation into the relationship between self-evaluation or personal experience and knowledge of the illness. Also, this project provides the opportunity to evaluate how women recognise depression, and allows for a consideration of the way in which women relate recognition to personal experience.
A number of important implications arise from this research. Understanding how women perceive their own risk of depression has important implications for help
seeking, treatment outcomes and health promotion. This research will examine and deconstruct some key influences of health behaviours facilitating a greater understanding of the motivations for help seeking and of the relationship between personal experience / self-evaluation and help seeking behaviour. Such understandings will aid the development of effective policies for health promotion, and potentially reveal techniques for increasing awareness of warning signs of depression. Further, by providing a description and explanation of some of the key factors associated with perception of risk of depression, including knowledge of the illness and attitude toward the illness, the ability of mental health professionals to provide educational opportunities for the general public about the issues surrounding depression and the recognition of symptoms could be enhanced. Understanding the nature of stereotypical representations of sufferers held by women further offers the opportunity to actively target and dispel misconceptions reinforced through the stigma associated with depression.
Considering the role of optimistic bias, as both a personality and illness specific construct provides clues about the appropriate direction for interventions designed to improve health-promoting behaviours. It also permits these concepts to be considered for their contribution to the development and maintenance of barriers to treatment and help seeking, as well as for the marketing and promotion of preventative medicine.
Finally, this research is timely, with recent government initiatives related to depression such as the development of the Depression Institute, Beyond Blue, and the new focus on increasing the public awareness about the relationship between physical health, mental health and overall well being.
CHAPTER SIX METHODOLOGY
This chapter describes the study sample and the procedure for sample recruitment. The procedures for data collection are then set out in full detail, including description and discussion of the measures employed to test each of the hypotheses.
6.1 The sample: characteristics and recruitment
The women who participated in this study were recruited in the State of Victoria, Australia.
One hundred and five women were recruited. The women were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. The method of recruitment involved approaching individuals known to the researcher in the north, south, east and west regions of Victoria. These individuals were asked to approach women known to them to participate in the study. Women who participated in this study lived in both rural and regional areas and came from a range of socio economic and demographic locations. The participants were aged above 18 years of age and English speaking. All participants were volunteers who were approached, by people known to them and asked to participate in the study, described as ‘an examination of psychological factors affecting health’. The research was not described as a study based on depression in order to minimise any potential reporting bias. In addition, given that one of the aims of this research was to examine differences in conceptualisation
between physical illness and mental illness, it was deemed counterintuitive to highlight depression as the main focus.
Participants were asked by their acquaintance if they would be prepared to complete a series of questionnaires for a Victoria University Doctoral student. The participants who agreed to partake were then contacted by the researcher to arrange an appointment to complete the questionnaires. Appointments were arranged at the convenience of the participant.
All participants were given an Invitation to Help with a Research Project (Appendix A) and written instructions, as well as the opportunity to ask questions of the researcher. Because of the sensitive nature of some of the questions, the confidential nature of the questionnaires was stressed to the participants. Written consent to participate was secured (Appendix B) and participants were reminded in plain language of their right to withdraw at any stage without consequence to themselves. Completing the survey questionnaire took between 25 and 35 minutes. Participants were asked to complete the questionnaires themselves, place and seal them in an envelope provided and return them directly to the researcher. On completion of the questionnaires, participants were thanked for their time, and given information about who to contact should they have any questions relating to their participation as it was acknowledged that questions relating to the illnesses targeted could be upsetting. Additional phone numbers were provided for Diabetes Australia, Anti Cancer Council, AIDSLINE, LIFELINE, and SANE AUSTRALIA. Debriefing and further explanation of the study could occur with participants as required, after formal
participation was completed. None of the participants elected to contact the researcher.
The Human Research Ethics Committee, Victoria University granted ethics approval to this project in July 2002 (Appendix C).