Citation

Sani F, Madhok V, Norbury M, Dugard P, Wakefield JR. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2015; 50(9): 1389-1397.

Affiliation

School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK, f.sani@dundee.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-015-1076-4

PMID

26058588

Abstract

PURPOSE: Group identification has been shown to be associated with reduced risk of depression, but this research has important limitations. Our aim was to establish a robust link between group identification and depression whilst overcoming previous studies' shortcomings.

METHODS: 1824 participants, recruited from General Practice throughout Scotland, completed a questionnaire measuring their identification with three groups (family, community, and a group of their choice), as well as their intensity of contact with each group. They also completed a self-rated depression measure and provided demographic information. Their medical records were also accessed to determine if they had been prescribed antidepressants in the previous 6 months.

RESULTS: The number of group identifications was associated with both lower self-rated depression and lower odds of having received a prescription for antidepressants, even after controlling for the number of contact-intensive groups, level of education, gender, age, and relationship status.

CONCLUSIONS: Identifying with multiple groups may help to protect individuals against depression. This highlights the potential importance of social prescriptions, where health professionals encourage a depressed patient to become a member of one or more groups with which the patient believes he/she would be likely to identify.

Language: en