Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of coping by emotional expression on depression in women utilizing a prospective design. Japanese undergraduate students completed three self-report questionnaires: the situational version of the Emotional Coping Questionnaire to measure coping by emotional expression, the Social Support Scale for evaluating received support, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for assessing depression. Results showed that emotional expression directed at the self in situational coping had a significantly positive relationship with depression in highly depressive women, and that emotional expression directed at others had a significantly positive relationship with social support in less depressive women. However, no significant mediation effects of social support between emotional expression and depression were observed. The limitations of this study are discussed suggesting future research.
