DISTAL STRESSORS AND THE LIFE STRESS PROCESS

The current paper expands the concept of stressors to include two dist inct types: recent (proximal) stressors and more distant (distal) stre ssors. It then examines the role played by these two types of stressor s in an expanded model of the life stress process. In expanding the li fe stress model to include stressors occurring over a longer period of time, the paper first examines the ability of distal stressors to inc rease the variance explained in depressive symptomatology above and be yond that explained by the more traditional model variables: recent st ressors and social support. In modeling distal stressors in the life s tress process, two models are tested: (1) an independent model in whic h stressors and resources are examined for their independent effects o n distress, and (2) a deterioration model in which stressors are seen to affect subsequent levels of support, which then serve to increase d epression. Analysis showed that distal stressors make a significant an d independent contribution to explaining variations in depressive symp tomatology, above and beyond that explained by more recent stressors a nd social support. Support was found for both the independent model an d the deterioration model of the life stress process. Distal stressors , proximal stressors, and social support have an independent effect on current depression. Further, distal stressors and proximal stressors erode current levels of support, which in turn impact on current level s of depression. The implications of these and other findings are disc ussed.