DAILY STRESSORS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AVAILABILITY AS PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSED MOOD IN MALE FIREFIGHTERS

The influence of daily stressors and social support availability on de pressed mood was assessed over a 9-month period in 68 male firefighter s. At 3-monthly intervals, an abbreviated Daily Stress Index (DSI) was completed for 16 days prior to administration of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). After negative affectivity, depressed mood and daily stress levels 3 months previously had been taken into account statisti cally, the DSI predicted subsequent BDI scores at the 3-, 6- and 9-mon th assessments. At the 3-and 6-month assessments, social support buffe red the impact of DSI on depressed mood. By contrast, daily stress sco res were not predicted by prior depressed mood or social support. The results are interpreted to support the causal influence of daily stres sors on depressed mood, and the protective effect of social support.