ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the moderating role of different forms of support on the associations between active coping, stress, and life satisfaction and depressive symptoms.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 194 mostly Indo Guyanese and 189 young adults from diverse ethnic groups in Trinidad and Tobago filled out a life satisfaction scale, a perceived stress scale, a social support scale, an active coping scale, and the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale (CES-D).

Results: Young adults in Guyana showed a lower prevalence (36.6%) of depression than those in Trinidad and Tobago (46%). Stress and life satisfaction predicted depressive symptoms and family support mediate and moderated the association between young adults’ life satisfaction and depressive symptoms in both countries.

Conclusion: In countries with challenging ecological niches and underdeveloped mental health systems, there should be greater emphasis on the moderating and mediating role of family support systems and life events in interventions focussing on common mental health problems.