PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSION AMONG WORKERS AT THE TIME OF A PLANT CLOSING

Using an ecological theoretical perspective, this study of white male UAW workers stressed by a plant closing explored predictors of depress ion at multiple systems levels. The five best predictors of workers' d epression were family strengths, age, economic strain, health, and soc ial support. Additional bivariate predictors included self-esteem and having an alcohol problem at the individual level, marital status and family satisfaction at the family system level, and household income, home ownership, and key relationships at the social-environmental leve l. Implications for collaboration between direct-service and policy-pr actice social workers are discussed.