Table 5 Social service proposition—inference to best explanation

Hill’s aspects of association

Strength

Social services were identified by QUAL but has a weak association with depression at the ecological level. No individual level data available

Consistency

The Social services have not been well studied as protective also intervention studies show some effect

Specificity

No specificity identified

Temporality

No temporality demonstrated in this study

Biological gradient

Limited information available

Plausibility

The association between Social Services and stress is plausible

Coherence

The association is coherent with what is know

Experimental evidence

There is experimental evidence that service intervention can reduce depression

Analogy

There is an analogy between of social service support with social support and practical providing buffering

Thagard’s Principles

Symmetry

There is symmetry between social services buffering stress and social support and practical support preventing depression

Explanation

The social service proposition a) coheres with evidence on depression, b) coheres with other propositions and c) is not a single proposition

Analogy

Social services buffering stress is coherent with social support buffering stress

Data priority

The proposition describes the observation re ecological association

Contradiction

There are no contradictory proposals

Competition

No competitive explanation identified where p and q were not explanatorily connected

Acceptance

The social service proposition is coherent with the overall system of propositions

Thagard’s Criteria

Consilience

Social service proposition explains a limited range of known facts

Simplicity

Social service proposition is not sufficient to protect from depression. Not the most simple explanation

Analogy

Social service buffering stress in mothers is analogous to social support buffering stress and depression