Fabio Sani1, Vishnu Madhok2, Michael Norbury3,4, Pat Dugard5, Juliet R H Wakefield5. 1. School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK. f.sani@dundee.ac.uk. 2. Park House Surgery, Bagshot, Surrey, UK. 3. NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. 4. Raven Song Community Health Centre, Vancouver, Canada. 5. School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, UK.
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.
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 depressedpatient to become a member of one or more groups with which the patient believes he/she would be likely to identify.
Entities:
Keywords:
Antidepressants; Depression; Group identification; Health; Social determinants of health
Authors: Tegan Cruwys; Genevieve A Dingle; Catherine Haslam; S Alexander Haslam; Jolanda Jetten; Thomas A Morton Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2013-09-25 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Juliet Ruth Helen Wakefield; Fabio Sani; Vishnu Madhok; Michael Norbury; Pat Dugard Journal: Psychol Health Med Date: 2015-02-16 Impact factor: 2.423
Authors: Fabia Cientanni; Kevin Power; Christopher Wright; Fabio Sani; Diane Reilly; Marie-Louise Blake; Kerry Hustings; David Morgan; Stella Clark Journal: Internet Interv Date: 2019-04-27
Authors: Alicia E Meuret; Michael Chmielewski; Ashton M Steele; David Rosenfield; Sibylle Petersen; Jasper A J Smits; Naomi M Simon; Michael W Otto; Luana Marques; Mark H Pollack; Stefan G Hofmann Journal: Behav Res Ther Date: 2016-04-02