2004 - School of Social Service Administration - University of Chicago

DISSERTATION ABSTRACT
ated the SES-outcome relationship. The process study results show that higher
levels of therapists’ approach of financial, work, and unemployment topics are
associated with greater improvement across socioeconomic status groups.
The most important implication of the current findings for clinical practice
is that clinicians must be aware that there may be limitations in the use of
these empirically validated treatments with lower SES depressed patients, as
their improvement rates are likely to be less than those of middle SES
depressed patients treated by the same modalities. Social workers using these
modalities with lower SES patients should consider modifying them to
include elements discussed in several theoretical, clinical, and empirical
sources.
A second finding highlights the importance of addressing economic stress
in the treatment process. The findings suggest that clinicians should inquire
about and encourage discussion of economic stressors in the early sessions of
treatment for both lower and middle SES patients.
Finally, this study documents the role played by therapist attitudes in
influencing differential improvement by SES in therapy for depression. It is
important for therapists to be aware of their own stereotypes about motivation
and prognosis for lower SES patients. It also suggests that clinician training
include education about the difficult life circumstances faced by lower SES
patients. ■
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LYDIA FALCONNIER graduated from the Ph.D. program at the School of Social Service
Administration in December 2003. Her dissertation research evaluated the relationship between
socioeconomic status and both the processes and outcomes of treatment for depression. In August
2002, she accepted a position at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she is currently an
assistant professor at the Jane Addams College of Social Work. Her research interest in poverty
and mental health continues, with a current focus on interventions for mentally ill parents whose
children are in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
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