Substance abuse and depression in rural women of Virginia : a comparative study

This study used a stress-vulnerability model to examine risk factors for substance abuse and depression among impoverished, rural women in Virginia. Based on diagnostic interview, three groups of women were identified: a group of substance abusing women (SA), a group of depressed women (D), and a group of healthy controls (C).
Components of the model were examined across groups. Those components included 1) sociodemographic factors, 2) vulnerability factors such as poverty and victimization, 3) stressful life events, and 4) outcome measures such as health and functional status and hopelessness.
Nursing implications as well as suggestions for further research are discussed.