Abstract:
The purposes of this descriptive research was to examine the causal relationship between strength self-efficacy, resourcefulness, purpose in life, social support, alcohol abuse, and recovery among persons with major depressive disorder (MDD). The conceptual framework was guided by Schlotfeldt’s Health Seeking Model. 444 participants with MDD. who attended outpatient department, mental health and psychiatric clinics, and mental health and psychiatric division in eight hospitals from all part of Thailand participated in this study. The participants were obtained by simple random sampling. The research instruments included a personal data sheet, the Strength Self-Efficacy Scale, the Resourcefulness Scale, the Purpose in Life subscale, the Multidimensional Scale Perceive Social Support, the Alcohol Use Identification Test and the Thai Mental Health Recovery Measure, having reliability ranging from .72 to .94. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a linear structural relationship (LISREL) analysis. The result illustrated that the hypothesized model fit with the empirical data, and explained 77% of the variance of recovery among persons with MDD. (χ2 = 103.46, df= 89, p= .068, χ2 /df= 1.162, RMSEA= .027, GFI=.97, AGFI=.95). The significantly factors, strength self-efficacy was the most influential factor direct affecting recovery, follow by resourcefulness, purpose in life, social support, and alcohol abuse, respectively (β = .64, .56, .42, .28, -.17). The results contribute to the better understanding of the variables that predict recovery among persons with MDD. Thus, mental health nurses need to be aware of the effects of these contributing factors and develop appropriate nursing interventions. The further interventions should be concerned about enhancing strength self-efficacy, supporting resourcefulness, motivating purpose in life, enhancing perceived of social support and preventing alcohol abuse to increase recovery among persons with major depressive disorder.