GREY GLASSES - SADNESS IN YOUNG-WOMEN

Sadness as a developmental phenomenon in young women was discovered in a study designed to identify developmental transitions and the relati onship of these transitions to mental health, Sadness is conceptualize d as a pervasive feeling of disillusionment and unhappiness that influ ences the meaning of life events and decision-making. Field research a nd interpretive analysis techniques were used to observe, describe and analyse the life experiences of 25 volunteer participants, For mast w omen in the study, sadness was found to be rime-limited and perhaps ha d beneficial effects. Some women, however, were unable to resolve sadn ess and became depressed, Sadness can be an antecedent to depression, Sadness that is recognized and validated may facilitate reshaping of a woman's expectations, a form of cognitive restructuring, The transiti onal nature of sadness has important implications for women's mental h ealth.