本研究想要探討罹患憂鬱症的女性如何理解與詮釋女性角色對於自己生活的影響，業嚐試找出與憂鬱症的連結。女性與心理健康間的關係雖迭有論述，但是過去國內臨床實驗研究比較缺乏以患者的角度所呈現的資料。本研究探取質性訪談方式，挑選三位元不同世代的婦女，整理她們對婦女性角色的認知與因應過程。研究結果發現：不同世代的女性雖然對於女性角色的內涵知覺稍有不同，但是相同的是均需面對自我需求與社會期待所造成的矛盾、不滿與妥協，長期未解決的衝突及負擔現憂鬱狀態是有關聯的。

Owing to the lack of subjective experience in female role from clinical population in extant indigenous literature, the purpose of present study is to explore female depressive patient's perception and interpretation of their gender role experience, with the intention to clarify the relationship between gender role experience and depression. Three depressive women from different generations were selected into this study. Qualitative research method was adopted in order to explore the subjects' cognitive and coping process concerning female role during the course of their lives. Results show that although the gender role had some changes among three generations, these subjects are still struggling with the conflicts between their own needs and social expectations. Long term stress under strong ambivalent emotion, feeling of unfair, and reluctant compromise are disadvantageous for women’s mental health. The implication for clinicals is pointed out.