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Depression and Everyday Social Activity, Belonging, and Well-Being
Abstract
Dysfunctional social behavior has been implicated in the experience of depression. People with greater depressive symptoms report more frequent negative social interactions and react more strongly to them. It remains unknown, however, whether reaction strength differs depending on whether social interactions are positive or negative. Drawing on socio-evolutionary models of depression (N. B. Allen & P. B. T. Badcock, 2003), we proposed that people with greater depressive symptoms should not only react more strongly to negative social interactions but also to positive social interactions and a sense of belonging. Using non-clinical samples, two daily process studies examined the role of depression in people's reactivity to social interactions in natural, ongoing, social contexts. In Study 1, the number of positive and negative social events showed a stronger relation to well-being among people with greater depressive symptoms. Study 2 extended this finding to perceptions of belonging in memorable social interactions, finding a stronger link between belonging and well-being among people with greater depressive symptoms. Together these studies provide the first indication that depressive symptoms may sensitize people to everyday experiences of both social rejection and social acceptance.
... Further, we show the right middle frontal gyrus, a region typically associated with executive control 32 , shows greater engagement while reimagining memories of social inclusion and rejection in MDD relative to controls. While this region has been shown to be activated within non-social contexts in depression 33 , we speculate that under conditions of social affiliation, this sensitivity may arise from the personal relevance of those social evaluations to one's current social status 18,[34][35][36] , which may be heightened in depression. These results, strengthened by their ecological validity, contribute to an emerging neuroimaging literature suggesting a dedicated neural substrate for complex representations of both positive and negative social signals 17,18,20,37,38 . ...
... This is supported by empirical evidence that individuals high in interpersonal rejection sensitivity tend to modify their interpersonal behaviour to avoid social exclusion and maintain social acceptance 41 . Finally, our results are in line with wider literature suggesting that social cues involving social acceptance may elicit higher levels and greater intensity of positive affect in depressed individuals, contrary to previous assumptions 36,39,42 . This suggests that depressive symptoms may increase sensitivity to both past and present experiences of both social acceptance. ...
Cues of social rejection and affiliation represent proximal risk and protective factors in the onset and maintenance of depression. Such cues are thought to activate an evolutionarily primed neuro-cognitive alarm system, alerting the agent to the benefits of inclusion or the risk of social exclusion within social hierarchies focused on ensuring continued access to resources. In tandem, autobiographical memory is thought to be over-general and negatively biased in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) which can contribute to maintenance and relapse. How memories of social rejection and affiliation are experienced and processed in MDD remains unexplored. Eighteen participants with recurrent and chronic MDD and 18 never-depressed controls listened to and vividly revisited autobiographical social experiences in an ecologically valid script-driven imagery paradigm using naturalistic memory narratives in an fMRI paradigm. Memories of Social Inclusion and Social Rejection broadly activated a common network of regions including the bilateral insula, thalamus and pre/postcentral gyrus across both groups. However, having a diagnosis of MDD was associated with an increased activation of the right middle frontal gyrus irrespective of memory type. Changes in positive affect were associated with activity in the dorsal ACC in the MDD group and in the insular cortex of the Control group. Our findings add to the evidence for complex representations for both positive and negative social signals in MDD and suggest neural sensitivity in MDD towards any socially salient information as opposed to selective sensitivity towards negative social experiences.
... Individuals with depression may be more likely to experience difficult social situations, negative interactions, and selectively focus on negative emotional stimuli (Steger and Kashdan 2009). This may result in fewer intimate relationships, greater negative responses from others, and greater emotional distress in response to social stressors (Steger and Kashdan 2009). ...
... Individuals with depression may be more likely to experience difficult social situations, negative interactions, and selectively focus on negative emotional stimuli (Steger and Kashdan 2009). This may result in fewer intimate relationships, greater negative responses from others, and greater emotional distress in response to social stressors (Steger and Kashdan 2009). Consequently, PLWH with depression may be more likely to experience stressful life events and also respond more negatively to them, creating a double burden of disability, whilst having lower 'reserve' due to lower socioeconomic status (Wagner et al. 2012). ...
Studies of depression and its outcomes in older people living with HIV (PLWH) are currently lacking in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in PLWH aged ≥ 50 years in Tanzania focussing on prevalence and 2-year outcomes of depression. PLWH aged ≥ 50 were systematically recruited from an outpatient clinic and assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Neurological and functional impairment was assessed at year 2 follow-up. At baseline, 253 PLWH were recruited (72.3% female, median age 57, 95.5% on cART). DSM-IV depression was highly prevalent (20.9%), whereas other DSM-IV psychiatric disorders were uncommon. At follow-up (n = 162), incident cases of DSM-IV depression decreased from14.2 to 11.1% (χ2: 2.48, p = 0.29); this decline was not significant. Baseline depression was associated with increased functional and neurological impairment. At follow-up, depression was associated with negative life events (p = 0.001), neurological impairment (p < 0.001), and increased functional impairment (p = 0.018), but not with HIV and sociodemographic factors. In this setting, depression appears highly prevalent and associated with poorer neurological and functional outcomes and negative life events. Depression may be a future intervention target.
... The quality of social relations and support mechanisms have an impact on behaviors (Hunter et al., 2019;Labrague, 2021). Many studies have focused on factors such as social support and ikigai, predicting their positive impact on negative behaviors (Callaghan & Morrissey, 1993;Ghaderi Rammazi et al., 2018;Ishida, 2012b;Kaplan et al., 1977;Schwarzer & Leppin, 2016;Seko & Hirano, 2021;Steger & Kashdan, 2009). The role of social support as preventive and protective is important in terms of social and behavioral problems (Schwarzer & Leppin, 1991). ...
... On the other hand, ikigai, which promotes positive beliefs and subjective well-being, increases belonging by improving problem-solving ability (Dezutter et al., 2015;Fredrickson, 1998;Fredrickson et al., 2003). High-level ikigai helps to overcome mental and behavioral problems (Crumbaugh, 1968;Frankl, 1985;Garfield, 1973;Ghaderi Rammazi et al., 2018;Harlow et al., 1986;Steger et al., 2006;Steger & Kashdan, 2009;Testoni et al., 2018). Moreover, individuals with low ikigai are more vulnerable and prone to negative behaviors such as addiction (Ishida, 2012a). ...
Social support and ikigai (making life worthwhile) have positive effects on problematic smartphone use and are seen to be related to each other. However, what mediates these relationships has not been adequately analyzed. This study aims to examine how the effect between social support and problematic smartphone use occurs by suggesting the mediator role of ikigai. The study was designed as quantitative and cross-sectional, and 1189 university participants aged 18 and over were reached online. The multidimensional scale of perceived social support, ikigai-9 scale, smartphone application-based addiction scale and sociodemographic information form were used as data collection tools in the study. The data obtained were carried out using SPSS 24 and Amos 25 statistical programs. Established hypotheses were tested with correlation, multiple regression and mediation analyzes. The results confirmed that social support was positively associated with ikigai, and ikigai was negatively associated with problematic smartphone use. In addition, interaction analyzes found that ikigai had a mediating effect. These findings show the importance of implementing specific applications based on the meaning and purpose of life (ikigai), especially for vulnerable groups, to minimize the problems that may arise with the excessive use of smartphones.
... In the global population, depression and anxiety have an approximate prevalence of 4.7% and 7.3%, respectively (Baxter et al., 2012;Ferrari et al., 2013;Lam, 2014). These disorders have high levels of comorbidity, impact the quality of social relationships and are very common mental health issues, with an onset usually during adolescence (Hirschfeld, 2001;Rosenquist et al., 2011;Steger & Kashdan, 2009). ...
... In this social perspective, on one hand, Internet use may protect from mental illness, as it supports, enables, and extends social interaction (boyd & Ellison, 2007;Ellison et al., 2007;Wilson et al., 2012) giving a sense of belonging and of social connectedness (Baek et al., 2013;Guo et al., 2014;Jin, 2013;Lee et al., 2013;Manago et al., 2012;Oh et al., 2014). On the other hand, there are many opportunities for miscommunications and mismanaged expectations, and maladaptive tendencies can be exaggerated, leading to a greater sense of isolation (Baek et al., 2013;Best et al., 2014;Steger & Kashdan, 2009). Indeed, the literature, in this field, is divided between studies that consider that anxious and depressive symptoms promote the dysfunctional use of the Internet, and others that defend the opposite: it is the PIU that promotes angodepressive symptoms (Hawi et al., 2018;Hirschfeld, 2001;Tan et al., 2016;Weinstein et al., 2015). ...
Depressive and anxious syndromes have been proposed as risk factors and as consequences of Problematic Internet Use (PIU). There has been no study relating affective symptoms in subjects with Problematic Internet Use and those with major depressive and anxious syndromes. In this study, three samples were collected: two from ambulatory clinical settings of the North Lisbon Hospital Centre (1. Centre for PIU and 2. Out-patient psychiatry consultation for adolescents and young adults) and a control group from Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa. Internet use profile and affective psychopathology were assessed and socio-demographic characteristics were controlled. The results revealed that both the PIU group and the clinical group presented significantly higher depression and anxiety scores than the control group while there was no significant difference between them. Also, Problematic Internet Users, similarly to the clinical group, tend to live in less functional families. We speculate that the similitude between samples and yet such different clinical presentations could be explained if Internet acted as a buffer to affective psychopathology. These findings warrant exploring the possibility of PIU as new (and generation biased) psychopathology of depressive or anxious states.
... The Daily Functioning Scale was designed for the present study to assess quality of daily functioning across the domains of social interaction, productivity and focus, energy and physical activity, sleep, and leisure and relaxation. Domains of functioning were adapted from existing measures of daily functioning and well-being among college students (Butler et al., 1994;Steger & Kashdan, 2009) but scale items were created for this study (see Appendix). Fifteen items were rated on a 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely) Likert-type scale. ...
Purpose
Cognitive-behavioral and metacognitive theories suggest that appraisals of perseverative (repetitive negative) thoughts play a crucial role in determining affective and behavioral outcomes. The current study prospectively tested these theories across thought types by examining the relationship between thought appraisals and later outcomes.
Methods
The current study tested the association of negative and positive appraisals of obsessions, worries, and ruminative thoughts to self-reported outcomes at 1-month follow-up (n = 96) using an unselected student sample.
Results
At 1-month follow-up, prior negative appraisals predicted increasing thought frequency for worry and rumination but not obsessions, while prior positive appraisals predicted increasing thought frequency and negative affect for rumination only.
Conclusions
Results suggest that different forms of perseverative thought may differ in the extent to which immediate negative and positive appraisals are related to later outcomes. These results contribute to our understanding of the role of metacognitive appraisals in the persistence of different forms of perseverative thought, and suggest important differences across thought types.
... Depressive episodes can harm individuals' everyday functioning, social connections, and overall well-being. They can disrupt work, education, and personal relationships and, in severe cases, increase the risk of suicide [10]. Unfortunately, many people who experience depression fail to seek or receive appropriate treatment. ...
Background Depressive episodes are associated with increased mortality rates across the United States. Recognizing the relationship between depression and physical health, understanding the contributing factors, and addressing disparities are critical in reducing mortality rates and improving the overall well-being of individuals experiencing depressive episodes. Continued research, public health efforts, and collaborative approaches are essential to tackle this complex public health concern effectively. Studying the mortality rate trends of depressive episodes along with other related factors will help enhance the understanding of the condition, which, in turn, will assist in reducing mortality rates in the vulnerable population. Methodology Data from the CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database on the Underlying Cause of Death were examined to identify individuals who experienced fatal outcomes related to depressive episodes from 1999 to 2020. The WONDER database refers to the online system used by the CDC to make its various resources accessible to the public and public health experts. CDC WONDER offers access to a broader range of information on public health. Results A total of 13,290 individuals who died from depressive episodes between 1999 and 2020 were identified. Data analysis revealed an overall mortality rate of 0.20 per 100,000 individuals during the specified period. The highest mortality rates were observed in the years 2003 (0.28), 2001 (0.27), and 1999 (0.27). The analysis revealed significant disparities in mortality rates among different demographic groups. Older adults, females, specific racial groups, including Whites and African Americans, and specific geographic areas, including the Midwest, Northeast, South, and West, exhibited higher mortality rates associated with depressive episodes. Conclusions The study identified that older individuals, females, Whites, and African Americans, as well as certain geographic regions, exhibited an increased likelihood of mortality related to depressive episodes. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the complex interplay between mental health and mortality. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing disparities in mental health outcomes among different demographic groups. Identifying vulnerable populations can inform targeted interventions and resources to address the elevated mortality risk.
... Employed Turkish immigrants and those who considered themselves as German reported higher social integration and perceived social support scores. These findings were in line with previous studies that showed that ethnic minorities who feel a sense of attachment to their host country were more likely to get integrated (Décieux et al.,2021) and experience less stress (Steger et al., 2009). Besides, employed immigrants were reported to have higher life satisfaction and cultural integration (OECD, 2018;Leopold et al., 2017). ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between social integration, perceived social support, and life satisfaction in Turkish immigrants diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety living in Germany. The population of the study was 400 Turkish immigrant patients treated at the Neuro‐Psychiatrisches Zentrum Riem (NPZR) in Munich, Germany. Data was collected using the Community Integration Measure (CIM), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Results showed that Turkish immigrants with higher social support scores had higher social integration and life satisfaction scores. Moreover, employed immigrants, those who identified as German citizens, and those who were married had higher social integration and perceived social support scores. Conversely, divorced immigrants had lower perceived social support scores. These findings suggest that social integration and life satisfaction in Turkish immigrants are related to perceived social support. The results of this study can contribute to the literature regarding the psychological difficulties facing migrants who are forced to leave their social lives and families.
... Lastly, depressive states may make one more susceptible to respond to affordances that conflict with virtuous values. As Milgram (1974) argues, feelings of insecurity or incompetence strengthen conditions of conformity, an effect that Steger and Kashdan (2009) explain through the heightened sensitivity to social rejection that depressed agents experience, as well as through the discussed negative estimation of their abilities. If we accept this, the depressed agent is more susceptible to the bystander effect, i.e., not helping someone in need due to the inaction of other bystanders, as well as other morally disadvantageous forms of conformity (Hortensius and de Gelder 2018). ...
Despite efforts to make virtue-acquisition more accessible, neo-Aristotelian accounts of virtue currently exclude those who occasionally experience depressive episodes from potentially possessing moral virtue. This problem of accessibility is especially relevant given the increased prevalence of depression due to, e.g., the COVID19 pandemic. Through an interdisciplinary analysis, I argue that one’s ability to adequately recognise and respond to virtuous possibilities for action is impoverished during a depressive episode. This is illustrated through the depressed agent’s field of affordances: the collection of possible actions an agent perceives. As moral virtues are conceptualised as stable dispositions, even a temporary yet significant decrease in moral competence excludes the agent from possessing the relevant virtue. To solve this problem of accessibility, I argue that, similar to Aristotle’s discussion of sleep, depressive episodes can be conceptualised as temporary states that cause one’s virtues to be inactive, rather than absent.
... Access to friends, best friends, or social supports are critical starting points to engage in meaningful social activities. In the general population, lower social activation is a risk factor for depression, while higher social activation may protect against and/or alleviate depression (Hirschfeld et al., 2000;Steger & Kashdan, 2009). For autistic people, experiences of loneliness, marginalization, dehumanization, and social rejection are unfortunately common and associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs; Botha & Gillespie-Lynch, 2022;Hymas et al., 2022;Kapp, 2018). ...
Autistic youth are more likely to experience depression than their non-autistic peers, yet research on risk and protective factors to depression in this population is limited. Behavioral activation (i.e., prioritizing and engaging in meaningful activities), including social activities, is an important mechanism in the pathway to depression in non-autistic youth that is understudied in autism. Ratings of youth depressive symptoms and behavioral and social activation at one timepoint from 100 autistic youth without intellectual disability and 100 of their caregivers were analyzed. The study aims were to examine caregiver and youth ratings of youth internalizing symptoms and behavioral and social activation, inter-rater reliability on study variables, and associations between depressive symptoms and behavioral and social activation in autistic youth by rater. Results revealed significant differences in youth and caregiver ratings on all variables and inter-rater reliability ranged from poor to moderate. Across both raters, more severe anxiety symptoms and lower behavioral activation were associated with more severe depressive symptoms; social activation, specifically the number of friends youth have, was significant in caregiver ratings only. Findings can be leveraged to enhance risk stratification and intervention efforts for autistic youth experiencing depression.
... A hopeless feeling is expressed aging situation when a low connection to God, an unsociable, and an unhealthy environment. These findings were supported by the previous study that there was a significant connection between depression and God [22], depression and social activity [23,24], and depression and environment [25,26]. ...
People in their later years frequently strugglewith mental health issues, particularly depression. This isespecially common in people who have reached older ages.Having a spiritual coping mechanism is one of the factorsthat might prevent someone from developing depression.On the island of Bali, Tri Hita Karana’s philosophy is putinto practice in daily life. In light of the COVID-19pandemic, the purpose of this study was to investigateolder adults' cultural involvement in the spiritual copingstrategies known as Tri Hita Karana. Methods ofqualitative description were utilized to accomplish thisstudy’s objectives. Five of the older adults who took part inthe research were asked detailed questions during in-depthinterviews. The subject of the thematic analysis was chosenwith inductive reasoning as the guiding principle. Theinvestigation discovered that the primary conceptsrevolved around "a sense of hopelessness" and"enlightening our path". The categories "a sense ofhopelessness" encompassed "Inguh/Sebet", "connectionthrough the mind," "human social nature," and "naturesurrounding us." The contribution to the enlightenmentincludes the "pathway to parahyangan", the "sharing liveand life of pawongan", and the "calmness of palemahan".Tri Hita Karana is a method of spiritual coping that ispracticed on a daily basis among older people in Bali. TriHita Karana, when practiced, transforms into a potentspiritual coping enhancement that can assist in preventingdepression. Support for the utilization of social capital inthe management of stress is provided by the indigenousphilosophy that is ingrained in day-to-day life.
... Depression can manifest including di culty with concentration and psychomotor retardation presenting as lack of exercise. Symptoms may be disabling and promote isolation and disengagement with others and the community [11]. ...
Purpose
Little research exists on how a depressed patient’s social wealth affects their access and clinical benefit from Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent TMS therapy for MDD. To assess social assets, we implemented a modified version of the AHC-HRSN Screening Tool.
Results
We found that generally, the n = 74 patients had minimal deficits regarding basic needs. A majority reported social isolation and disabling symptom burden.
Conclusion
This cohort had elevated levels of social assets, though symptoms may contribute to social disengagement. There is potential to connect patients with higher social burdens to TMS.
... Given the substantial negative effects that depression can have on science graduate students' social lives (Gin et al., 2021;Steger & Kashdan, 2009), professional lives (Hish et al., 2019;Peluso et al., 2011), and overall quality of life (Eisenberg et al., 2007;Evans et al., 2018), the scientific community is increasingly recognizing the importance of improving graduate student mental health ("The Mental Health of PhD Researchers Demands Urgent Attention", 2019; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, 2021;Pain, 2018;Puri, 2019;Woolston, 2020). While efforts have been made to increase access to student mental health resources (Kodish et al., 2021;Lipson et al., 2019), students would likely also benefit from graduate programs and research advisors fostering graduate school environments that promote mental health (Gin et al., 2021;Langin, 2021). ...
Background
Depression is one of the top mental health concerns among biology graduate students and has contributed to the “graduate student mental health crisis” declared in 2018. Several prominent science outlets have called for interventions to improve graduate student mental health, yet it is unclear to what extent graduate students with depression discuss their mental health with others in their Ph.D. programs. While sharing one’s depression may be an integral step to seeking mental health support during graduate school, depression is considered to be a concealable stigmatized identity (CSI) and revealing one’s depression could result in loss of status or discrimination. As such, face negotiation theory, which describes a set of communicative behaviors that individuals use to regulate their social dignity, may help identify what factors influence graduate students’ decisions about whether to reveal their depression in graduate school. In this study, we interviewed 50 Ph.D. students with depression enrolled across 28 life sciences graduate programs across the United States. We examined (1) to what extent graduate students revealed their depression to faculty advisors, graduate students, and undergraduates in their research lab, (2) the reasons why they revealed or concealed their depression, and (3) the consequences and benefits they perceive are associated with revealing depression. We used a hybrid approach of deductive and inductive coding to analyze our data.
Results
More than half (58%) of Ph.D. students revealed their depression to at least one faculty advisor, while 74% revealed to at least one graduate student. However, only 37% of graduate students revealed their depression to at least one undergraduate researcher. Graduate students’ decisions to reveal their depression to their peers were driven by positive mutual relationships, while their decisions to reveal to faculty were often based on maintaining dignity by performing preventative or corrective facework. Conversely, graduates performed supportive facework when interacting with undergraduate researchers by revealing their depression as a way to destigmatize struggling with mental health.
Conclusions
Life sciences graduate students most commonly revealed their depression to other graduate students, and over half reported discussing depression with their faculty advisor. However, graduate students were reluctant to share their depression with undergraduate researchers. Power dynamics between graduate students and their advisors, their peers, and their undergraduate mentees influenced the reasons they chose to reveal or conceal their depression in each situation. This study provides insights into how to create more inclusive life science graduate programs where students can feel more comfortable discussing their mental health.
... The current study has several limitations that should be acknowledged and addressed in future research: First, because this study was based on cross-sectional data, the directionality among the research constructs remains uncertain. For instance, it is reasonable that individuals' depressive symptoms may affect the levels of loneliness and the features of social relationships (e.g., network size, contact frequency, engagement in social activities, perceived levels of support, and relationship satisfaction) (86)(87)(88). Moreover, there are potential other confounders that we could not consider in our research model, such as major or minor accumulated life stressors, which could affect the pattern of results. ...
Background: Depression remains among the most prevalent mental disorders, and it severely affects daily functioning and quality of life. There has been extensive research reporting on the impact of social relationships on depression, but much of this research has only considered isolated aspects of relationships. This study derived social network types based on the multiple components of social relationships, and then investigated their effects on depressive symptoms.
Methods: Using samples of 620 adults (M age = 53.52), Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted to uncover network types based on the structural (network size, contact frequency, marital status, and social engagement), functional (levels of support and conflict), and qualitative (satisfaction with relationships) aspects of social relationships. Multiple regressions were used to test if distinct network types directly impact on depressive symptoms and whether network types moderate the association of loneliness (perceived social isolation) with depressive symptoms.
Results: LPA identified four distinct network types (diverse, family-focused, friend-focused, and restricted) and there were significant differences in depressive symptoms among four network types. Analysis using the BCH method showed that individuals in the restricted network type had the highest depressive symptoms, followed in order by individuals in the friend-focused, family-focused, and diverse network types. Regression results further indicated that an individual's network network type membership was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, and being in the diverse and family-focused network types alleviated the negative effect of loneliness on depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: The results suggest that both quantitative and qualitative aspects of social relationships are important in buffering against the adverse effect of loneliness on depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the utility of taking a multi-dimensional approach to uncover heterogeneity in the social networks of adults and their implications on depression.
... Interpersonal communication competency appears to in uence social functioning of depressed patients (Tse & Bond, 2004;Steger and Kashdan, 2009). ...
Background
Study group (21 male and 9 female) of adult patients with depression were offered a three-month interpersonal effectiveness skill training.
Objective
Determine the effect of implementing interpersonal effectiveness skills training intervention on interpersonal communication competence and social functioning among patients with depression than those who didn’t receive such intervention. Design of study: A quasi-experimental research design. Settings: The study was conducted in psychiatric outpatient clinics of the Main University Hospital of Alexandria University. Subjects: 30 patients with depression for applying the interpersonal effectiveness training intervention and30 patients with depression for control group. Tools: Three tools were used to collect the data for this study; socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule, interpersonal communication competence scale (ICCS) and social functioning scale (SFS).
Results
There are statistically significance differences in ICCS and SFS in total and subscales scores among study group before and after conducting interpersonal effectiveness skills intervention and vice versa is true for control group.
Conclusion
Patients with depression can be enhanced through interpersonal effectiveness skill training. Recommendations: Interpersonal effectiveness skills training is recommended for patients with depression as well as pharmacological treatment.
... Namely, these two studies show that depression contributes to stronger feelings of envy and a higher tendency to social comparison, but not vice versa. Given the paucity of publications, any interpretation should be taken with caution, but we can at least consider the possibility that depression should be viewed as a predictor rather than as an outcome of SM use, as a risk factor that increases responses to social stimuli and susceptibility to online maladaptive behaviors that might otherwise be benign or harmless [65,77]. ...
... Meanwhile, measures should be taken to enhance the sense of belonging of renters. Researchers have found people who experience positive social interaction are more likely to experience a sense of belonging while negative social interaction and ostracism make people feel unwelcome and lead to a low sense of belonging (Davidson, et al., 1995;Steger & Kashdan, 2009). In the Chinese context, people might associate renting with a lack of a sense of belonging because renters cannot enjoy the same rights as homeowners. ...
In recent years, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) has witnessed rapid growth across numerous jurisdictions, with Chinese metropolises notably standing out. Throughout the history of housing policy development in China, the PRS has been largely disregarded. It was not until 2015 that the government proposed the idea of “accelerating the development of the rental housing market” to achieve a “balanced development between home renting and purchasing”. However, the PRS in China is still in its immature stage, as evidenced by unstable rents and tenure, insufficient tenant rights, low levels of tenant satisfaction, minimal institutional landlord participation, and a lack of motivation among local governments to develop the PRS. This dissertation aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the PRS in metropolitan China and explore how to improve its functioning using Shenzhen as a case study. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected to examine the determinants of tenants’ intention to rent and residential satisfaction, the relationship between residential environment, social exclusion, and life satisfaction, the impact of landlords' management practices on tenants' housing experiences, and main challenges and solutions for a well-developed PRS. The results suggest that the PRS in Shenzhen is highly heterogeneous and comprised of several distinct sub-sectors. Housing policies should be tailored to each sub-sector's unique characteristics. The dissertation also reveals that the PRS is interconnected with other institutions such as the hukou system and education system. Therefore, a well-functioning PRS depends on the simultaneous reform of other sectors and institutions.
... World Health Organization [65] claimed that challenging work conditions, unhealthy lifestyle, physical sickness, social marginalization, and other issues all contribute to an individual's poor mental health. Similarly, academic performance, workplace productivity, and personal relationships are suffering as a result of declining in mental health [11,14,25,44,55,64]. Furthermore, there has been a marked rise in mental health issues globally as a result of the pandemic of COVID-19 [45]. ...
Positive mental health is crucial to individuals’ total well-being and especially to their emotional, psychological, and social functioning. To assess the positive aspects of mental health, the Positive Mental Health Scale (PMH-scale) is being used as one of the most significant and practical short unidimensional psychological tools. However, the PMH-scale has not yet been validated for the Bangladeshi population nor has it been translated into Bangla. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Bangla version of PMH-scale and validate it with the Brief Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ) and Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS). The sample of the study consisted of 3145 university students (61.8% men) aged from 17 to 27 (M = 22.07, SD = 1.74) and 298 general population (53.4% men) aged from 30 to 65 (M = 41.05, SD = 7.88) of Bangladesh. The factor structure of the PMH-scale as well as measurement invariance for sex and age (age ≤30 years; age >30 years) were tested, using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The CFA revealed that the originally proposed unidimensional model of PMH-scale had a good fit in the current sample which confirms factorial validity of the Bangla version of PMH-scale. The value of Cronbach’s alpha (for both groups combined α = 0.85; for the student sample α = .85; and for the general sample α = .73) ensured the high internal consistency of the items. Concurrent validity of the PMH-scale was confirmed through the expected correlation with aggression (BAQ) and mood (BRUMS). The PMH-scale was also partially invariant over groups (student, general, men and women) indicating that the PMH-scale is equally applicable to student, general, men and women population. Therefore, this study tells us that the Bangla version of PMH-scale is a quick and easy-to-administer tool for assessing positive mental health in different groups of people in Bangladeshi culture. This work will also be useful for mental health studies in Bangladesh.
... Identity motives are "psychological motivations that predispose people toward seeing themselves in certain ways" (Vignoles and Manzi 2014, p. 3061). Fulfilling these identity motives is associated with wellbeing, satisfaction, and psychological health in different contexts (Orth et al. 2008;Trzesniewski et al. 2006;Steger and Kashdan 2009;Hagerty et al. 1996). For this reason, people attempt to satisfy their identity motives by implementing different identity maintenance strategies. ...
Young people who migrate to another country, especially in the context of forced migration, must face complex and lengthy challenges. From a psychological point of view, the main challenges of migration are the re-signification of one’s identity, the re-establishment of one’s own life in the new country, and facing different social and institutional challenges as well as individual difficulties. All these challenges may constitute a threat to young migrants’ identity. Based on the Motivated Identity Construction Theory, this study aimed to explore—in a sample of refugees—the identity threats faced by forced migrants in the settlement phase and the resources most frequently activated in dealing with this sensitive phase.
... COVID-19-related questions on attention, enthusiasm, mental state, and self-confidence were also associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress levels in a significant way. Our findings are in agreement with global studies that reveal depression, anxiety, and stress are connected with altered sleep patterns, decreased enthusiasm, and less sensitivity to everyday situations due to poor attention and lack of self-confidence (32,33) . Because the DASS 21 scale is independent of events, it's difficult to conclude that COVID-19 is alone causing these depression symptoms, anxiety, or stress, but these findings should be brought into the focus of Dhaka University authority. ...
Student mental health in the university setting has been an expanding concern. The COVID-19 pandemic could be detrimental to the psychological wellness of university students. The aim of this investigation was to see the mental health outcomes of Dhaka University students during the COVID-19 outbreak. A crosssectional survey using a convenient sampling technique was conducted among 193 students of the University of Dhaka within a time duration of 1 month. Data was gathered by utilizing the web survey including DASS-21BV, demographic questions, and health-related queries with respect to COVID-19. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms was 64.2 % and 66.9%, respectively, and 51.8% of students reported mild to extremely severe levels of stress. Age group was significantly associated with DASS-21 depression subscale scores (χ2 (2)> =14.179, p= .007). Hall status was also significantly associated with DASS-21 anxiety subscale scores (χ2 (2)> =10.001, p= .040). Sleep-related queries with respect to COVID-19 were significantly associated with DASS-21 anxiety subscale scores (χ2 (2)> =24.135, p= .002). COVID-19-related queries on attention, enthusiasm, mental state, and self-confidencewere also significantly associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress levels (p<.001). The COVID-19 outbreak seems to have had a considerable psychological impact on Dhaka University students and would be benefited greatly through adequate support from the relevant authorities to cope with the situation mentally. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 32(1): 45-55, 2023 (January)
... For example, MIL is positively associated with happiness (Debats et al., 1993) and life satisfaction (Steger et al., 2008), and negatively related to depressive and anxiety symptoms (Ishida and Okada, 2006). Those who believe their lives are meaningful tend to exhibit a lower incidence of psychological disorders and lesser suicidal ideation than those who believe their lives are meaningless (Owens et al., 2009;Steger and Kashdan, 2009). ...
Current work on meaning-making has primarily focused on major negative life events such as trauma and loss, leaving common daily adversities unexplored. This study aimed to examine how utilizing meaning-making strategies such as positive reappraisal and self-distancing (in isolation or in combination) can facilitate an adaptive processing of these daily negative experiences. Overall meaning and facets of meaning (coherence, purpose, and significance/mattering) were assessed at both global and situational levels. Results suggested that positive reappraisal was generally effective for enhancing situational meaning but not under all conditions. Specifically, when negative experiences were high on emotional intensity, reflecting on the experience from a distanced (third-person) perspective enhanced coherence and existential mattering more than engaging in positive reappraisal. However, when negative experiences were low on intensity, distanced reflection led to less coherence and mattering than positive reappraisal. The findings of this study elucidated the importance of examining the multidimensional construct of meaning at the facet level and highlighted the importance of applying different coping strategies to effectively make meaning out of daily negative experiences.
... Namely, these two studies show that depression contributes to stronger feelings of envy and a higher tendency to social comparison, but not vice versa. Given the paucity of publications, any interpretation should be taken with caution, but we can at least consider the possibility that depression should be viewed as a predictor rather than as an outcome of SM use, as a risk factor that increases responses to social stimuli and susceptibility to online maladaptive behaviors that might otherwise be benign or harmless [65,77]. ...
This study aims to review the evidence for the reciprocal relationship between envy and social comparison (SC) on social networking sites (SNSs) and depression. We searched PsychINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science from January 2012 to November 2022, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 9 articles met our inclusion criteria. In all articles reviewed, a simple correlation was found between SC on SNSs, envy, and depression. Three cross-sectional studies successfully tested a model with envy as a mediator between SNSs and depression. The moderating role of additional variables such as self-efficacy, neuroticism, SC orientation, marital quality, and friendship type was also evident. The only two studies that were suitable to determine direction found that depression acted as a predictor rather than an outcome of SC and envy, and therefore depression might be a relevant risk factor for the negative emotional consequences of SNSs use.
... However, in line with previous research that found no additive effects of being included twice in a row (Dahl et al., 2019, Experiment 1;Tang & Richardson, 2013;Zwolinski, 2014), it was only after three inclusion experiences that need threat levels decreased significantly. Thus, the effects of repeated inclusion are rather small; however, in daily life, repeated experiences of inclusion may accumulate and contribute to self-esteem, achievement, health, and well-being (e.g., Greenaway et al., 2015;Steger & Kashdan, 2009;Walton & Cohen, 2007;Walton et al., 2012). Moreover, our finding that repeated inclusion has additive effects extends previous findings on acceptance: In an experiment, participants' reactions to being extremely accepted (i.e., participants were told that someone else definitely wanted to work with them) or moderately accepted (i.e., participants were told that someone else somewhat wanted to work with them) did not differ significantly (Buckley et al., 2004, Study 1;Leary et al., 1998). ...
Unlike one-time lab manipulations of exclusion, in real life, many people experience exclusion, from others and from groups, over extended periods, raising the question of whether individuals could, over time, develop hypo- or hypersensitive responses to chronic exclusion. In Study 1, we subjected participants to repeated experiences of inclusion or exclusion (three Cyberball games, time lag of three days, N = 194; 659 observations). We find that repeatedly excluded individuals become hypersensitive to inclusion, but not to exclusion. Study 2 ( N = 183) tested whether individuals with chronic experiences of real-world exclusion show hypo- or hypersensitive responses to a novel episode of exclusion. In line with Study 1, exclusion hurt to the same extent regardless of baseline levels of chronic exclusion in daily life. However, chronically excluded individuals show more psychological distress in general. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for dealing with chronically excluded individuals and groups.
... They did not play any role in the development of society. They feel their self alone and they like isolation (Steger & Kashdan, 2009). ...
Depression is a major public health concern in every community and country. Depression has long been considered an important target of mediation in brain research and psychiatry. Both professions have focused their efforts mostly on therapy rather than prevention. Despair is a major condition; as a result of sadness, many people become addicted to drugs and forget about their depression. The society also plays a significant part in the rehabilitation of drug addicts and depressed people, as well as the improvement of society's development. The purpose of this study is to look at the origins and effects of depression, as well as the role of depressed persons in social development. The participants in this study were all drug addicts who were depressed in some way. Snowball sampling was used to pick the 120 respondents. The findings of this study were used to develop a recommendation that aided in the rehabilitation of depressed and drug-addicted individuals.
... Thus, because depressed speakers may experience that a time-sharing listener is rejecting them, they would consequently feel social anxiety and reduced psychological safety. Depressed people prefer immediate and positive support signals (Steger & Kashdan, 2009). Therefore, they may prefer a free conversation, where the listener can react immediately to anything they say. ...
Listeners who interrupt speakers upset the speakers and prevent the benefits of good listening. Interruptions can be avoided with “time-sharing,” where each partner listens (silently) for an equal amount of time. Yet, is time-sharing good for all? In an experiment with 50 pairs (95 participants with useable data), participants conversed freely for one minute and were then assigned either to a time-sharing (of three minutes each) or a free conversation condition. Consistent with our hypotheses, speakers in the time-sharing condition showed reduced social anxiety if they were high on narcissism but elevated social anxiety if high on depression, explaining past inconsistent effects of time-sharing.
... Our study clarifies that a clinical pattern characterised by episodic irritability and trait irritability with inter-personal sensitivity and high neuroticism is probably the most frequently observed in patients with lifetime MDD and poor subjective wellbeing. A stronger link between both positive and negative social interactions and wellbeing was demonstrated in people with greater depressive symptoms (Steger and Kashdan, 2009), in line with the findings of other studies that supported the central role of social life in determining relevant outcomes in MDD (Oliva et al., 2021). Neuroticism was previously strongly associated with lower wellbeing, in those with lifetime MDD but also without MDD (Fabbri et al., 2021b). ...
... Anhedonia is a feature of depression and is defined as the loss of experiencing pleasure in a variety of behaviours (APA, 2013). Moreover, given that sending Christmas cards, like other greeting cards, are often viewed as a social pleasantry and as way of a conveying a person's feelings and mood (Henry, 1947;Kumar & Epley, 2018), it is therefore plausible (Steger & Kashdan, 2009) and studies have also found that greeting cards provide an ideal opportunity for researchers to capture the role of these social processes (Cacioppo & Andersen, 1981). Utilizing a large UK population-level dataset, the Understanding Society-The UK Household Longitudinal Study (Essex, 2020), we explore what Christmas cards might tell us about the mental health of the sender. ...
People with depression often struggle with Christmas. The festive period is often associated with parties, social engagement, putting up Christmas trees among other behaviours. Here, in a large UK population level dataset, we examine whether higher depressive symptomatology was associated with frequency of sending Christmas cards, and if this varied by religious affiliation. Retrospective observational study. Participants were 2,416 individuals within the UK who completed data from 2013 to 2015 within Wave 5 of the longitudinal survey ‘Understanding Society’. Data on depressive symptoms 12-General Health Questionnaire, frequency of sending Christmas cards, and religious affiliation were extracted. A higher percentage (54.5%) of those without depressive symptoms reported ‘Always’ sending Christmas cards, compared to 46.0% of those with depressive symptoms χ² (2) = 8.71, p < .001. After adjusting for religious affiliation, this remained significant only for Christians after holding, gender, relationship status and ethnicity constant. Christians with depression (20%) were more likely to ‘Never’ send Christmas cards, while those not depressed were 53% more likely to ‘Always’ send them, p < .01. In those identifying as Christians not sending a Christmas card was significantly associated with depressive symptoms. This might help provide a way to identify loved ones, friends or colleagues who may need help and support at Christmas.
... Individuals' interactions with each other in their social network contribute to their perceptions of being socially connected (Ashida & Heaney, 2008). Positive interactions are likely to generate a sense of belonging (Steger & Kashdan, 2009). This is particularly relevant in elderly care homes whereby the elderly individual's interaction with wider communities can be crucial to help maintain social connectedness. ...
While a plethora of research examines the antecedents and outcomes of favorable employee-to-customer interaction in the hospitality industry, little empirical investigation has been conducted so far to understand the effect of employee-to-customer interaction on customers’ social well-being. This omission is particularly intriguing in the context of elderly care homes whereby employee-to-customer interaction is both intense and crucial. Building on a transformative service research perspective, the present study draws on a mixed-methods approach using a sequential quantitative-qualitative design to understand the interface between favorable employee-to-customer interaction, social connectedness, and social well-being. Using data from 267 elderly individuals in care homes combined with data from three focus groups in China, the study confirms the role of favorable employee-to-customer interaction in enhancing the social connectedness of elderly customers. Both employee-to-customer interaction and social connectedness are also found to positively influence elderly customers’ social well-being. Findings from the qualitative study lend support to the proposed theoretical model and further demonstrate how elderly consumers’ social well-being is impacted in a transformative way by favorable interactions with employees. Qualitative findings show how both employees and elderly customers deploy different resources to pursue transformative outcomes of value exchange and value co-creation. The study advances transformative service research and suggests implications for policy and managers in elderly care homes and the wider hospitality industry.
... World Health Organization [65] claimed that challenging work conditions, unhealthy lifestyle, physical sickness, social marginalization, and other issues all contribute to an individual's poor mental health. Similarly, academic performance, workplace productivity, and personal relationships are suffering as a result of declining in mental health [11,14,25,44,55,64]. Furthermore, there has been a marked rise in mental health issues globally as a result of the pandemic of COVID-19 [45]. ...
Pada Maret 2020, World Health Organization (WHO), mendeklarasikan COVID-19 sebagai pandemi. Menteri Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan kemudian mengeluarkan Surat Edaran Nomor 36962/MPK.A/HK/2020 yang menganjurkan metode pembelajaran jarak jauh bagi mahasiswa. Perubahan yang signifikan dari Offline menjadi Online learning dapat mempengaruhi kesehatan mental dari mahasiswa. Penelitian ini bersifat deskriptif dengan pendekatan cross-sectional. Penelitian ini menggunakan kuesioner DASS 21 dan 8 pertanyaan terkait ketaatan beragama, masalah finansial, masalah dalam hubungan keluarga, masalah dalam bersosialisasi, masalah berhubungan dengan PJJ, masalah dengan jaringan internet, masalah dengan gawai yang digunakan untuk PJJ, dan pendapat responden mengenai keefektifan PJJ. Sebanyak 62 mahasiswa (40%) mengalami depresi, 100 mahasiswa (55.5%) mengalami ansietas, dan 73 mahasiswa (47.1%) mengalami stres. Mahasiswa yang taat beragama cenderung tidak mengalami depresi. Pada status ansietas, mahasiswa yang taat beragama justru lebih rentan terkena gangguan kecemasan. Masalah finansial pada individu atau keluarga mahasiswa berhubungan dengan tingkat stres mahasiswa. Sulit bersosialisasi berpengaruh terhadap kejadian depresi, ansietas, dan stres mahasiswa. Masalah dalam hubungan keluarga dengan kejadian depresi dan stres pada mahasiswa. Adanya masalah terkait PJJ berhubungan dengan kejadian depresi dan stres pada mahasiswa. Kendala pada jaringan internet berpengaruh terhadap tingkat depresi dan stres pada mahasiswa. Sebanyak 83 mahasiswa (53.5%) menganggap PJJ tidak efektif. Disisi lain, 72 mahasiswa (46.5%) menganggap PJJ lebih efektif dari pembelajaran luring.
Internationally, there is growing attention on links between social isolation and mental health problems. Here, we use unique Australian longitudinal data to investigate associations between adult men's (n = 507; age M = 29.90, SD = 1.31) social network investments and their concurrent and subsequent mental health problems. In linear regressions, using generalised estimating equations (GEEs), we examined associations between social network investment (time with friends, network size and various activities with friends) and mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety and stress) across five timepoints. Models were adjusted for waves of outcome and potential confounders. Cross-sectionally, each social network investment variable, except for drinking with friends, was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Men's extended friendship network size and sharing a meal with friends were negatively associated with concurrent anxiety and stress. Time spent and physical activity with friends was also negatively associated with concurrent stress. In longitudinal analyses, after adjusting for prior depressive symptoms, only the number of friends in close and extended networks remained protective against depressive symptoms 1 year later. Results did not differ by fatherhood or relationship status. Programs designed to strengthen men's investment in social networks are recommended to reduce men's depressive symptoms.
Depression is a leading global cause of disability, yet about half of patients do not respond to initial antidepressant treatment. This treatment difficulty may be in part due to the heterogeneity of depression and corresponding response to treatment. Unsupervised machine learning allows underlying patterns to be uncovered, and can be used to understand this heterogeneity by finding groups of patients with similar response trajectories. Prior studies attempting this have clustered patients using a narrow range of data primarily from depression scales. In this work, we used unsupervised machine learning to cluster patients receiving escitalopram therapy using a wide variety of subjective and objective clinical features from the first eight weeks of the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression-1 trial. We investigated how these clusters responded to treatment by comparing changes in symptoms and symptom categories, and by using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Our algorithm found three clusters, which broadly represented non-responders, responders, and remitters. Most categories of features followed this response pattern except for objective cognitive features. Using PCA with our clusters, we found that subjective mood state/anhedonia is the core feature of response with escitalopram, but there exists other distinct patterns of response around neurovegetative symptoms, activation, and cognition.
Objective:
To assess depression and anxiety among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with race.
Participants:
Using a cross-sectional survey, depression and anxiety among college students at a Predominantly White (PWU) and a Historically Black University (HBU) during 2021 were evaluated.
Methods:
The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), general anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), and self-reported sociodemographic characteristics were collected. Chi-square and logistic regression tests examined differences in depression and anxiety based on race.
Results:
Depression and anxiety among 3,102 students (87% female) were analyzed. Minority racial groups were associated with anxiety (p < 0.01) but not depression in the PWU. Moderately severe and severe depression was higher among the minority race at both the universities (1.76% compared to 0.53% at PWU, and 11.1% compared to 2.4% at HBU).
Conclusions:
Depression and anxiety among college students is influenced by racial status. First-generation students were more likely to report depression in both HBU and PWU.
Introduction:
While tobacco retail outlet (TRO) marketing exposure has been associated with tobacco use, little research has explored how this relationship may vary by the experience of depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine if the relationship between TRO tobacco marketing exposure and tobacco use initiation is moderated by depressive symptoms among young adults.
Methods:
Participants were drawn from 24 colleges in Texas who were participating in a multi-wave cohort study (2014-2019). The present study included 2020 cigarette or ENDS naïve participants at wave 2 (69.2% female; 32.1% white; m age=20.6 [SD=2.0] at wave 1). Generalized mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between cigarette and ENDS TRO marketing exposure and subsequent initiation for both products with depressive symptoms as a moderator.
Results:
The interaction between cigarette marketing and depressive symptoms was significant (OR=1.38 95% CI=[1.04,1.83]). Cigarette marketing did not impact cigarette initiation among participants with low depressive symptoms (OR=0.96 95% CI= [0.64,1.45]), but did impact cigarette initiation among participants with high depressive symptoms (OR=1.83 95% CI=[1.23,2.74]). There was no interaction effect for ENDS initiation. Main effects showed that ENDS marketing exposure predicted ENDS initiation (OR=1.43 95% CI=[1.10,1.87]).
Conclusions:
Exposure to tobacco marketing at TROs is an important risk factor for initiation of cigarette and ENDS use, particularly for cigarette initiation among those who experience greater levels of depressive symptoms. Future work is needed to better understand why this type of marketing is influential for this group.
The article provides a comparative analysis of the importance of factors of psychological well-being of youth studying for a military profile in the pre-war and post-war periods. In the study, preference was given to the psycholinguistic research method, namely, the free association experiment. The associative experiment was conducted in December 2022. The indicators for the period of October 2021 were chosen as the basis for a comparative analysis of the importance of factors related to psychological well-being in the pre-war and post-war periods. The russian-Ukrainian war became a major traumatic event for young people, which they are unable to explain within the framework of their previous experience, which was reflected in the increase in the specific weight of the thematic group "Establishment and regulation of relations with the environment". There was a significant increase in the specific weight of the "Life goals" thematic group. At the same time, there is a mutual connection between the associations of the thematic groups "Life goals" and "Self-acceptance", which indicates a high level of development of a sense of coherence among cadets. In peacetime, the most important factor in the psychological well-being of cadets is self-acceptance. In wartime, the central role in maintaining/increasing the psychological well-being of young people is played by the actualization of a life goal, which can also be considered as a strategy for overcoming a specific stressor. Updating the life goal is extremely effective for young people studying for a military profile in terms of maintaining/increasing psychological well-being, because the life pattern of the cadets, which already provided for the performance of military duty, does not require either a change in the life scheme or a change in the perception of a stressful situation, for example, searching for its positive aspects.
The "serotonin hypothesis of depression" is approximately fifty years old, and in spite of vast literature, the exact role of serotonin in depression pathophysiology is still unclear, as whether a lower serotonin level causes depression or depression causes a reduction in serotonin level has become a tough challenge for researchers to understand the actual involvement of serotonin in depression. Several pre-clinical and clinical studies have illustrated the multi-faceted signalling action of serotonin in depression and vouch for the significant or unavoidable role of serotonin in depression. In this review, the journey of the serotonin hypothesis of depression from the 1950s to the present time has been analysed to understand the serotonin hypothesis of depression and investigate the new molecular targets for the development of new future anti- depressants. The old and new theories of possible cellular mechanisms found to be involved in the pathophysiology of major depression or stress, such as polymorphism of serotonin transporters, enzyme modulating serotonergic activity, reduction in the level of serotonin and involvement of different sub-types of receptors, have been discussed in the respective review. Thus, in this review, the new signature targets to increase serotonin levels have been identified, which would help the researcher in the drug development of new faster-acting antidepressants.
This research tests the unique predictions of three different theoretical perspectives on the self-esteem benefits of religiosity: the religiosity-as-a-personal-relationship-with-a-higher-power perspective, the religiosity-as-a-resource perspective, and the religiosity-as-social-value perspective. To do so, we used random-intercept cross-lagged panel models and examined the between- and within-person associations between three indicators of religiosity (belief in God, service attendance, and prayer frequency) and self-esteem across 11 annual assessments in a nationally representative sample of Dutch individuals ( N = 12,915). The results reveal largely nonsignificant associations between all three religiosity indicators and self-esteem at the between- and the within-person levels. This finding supports the religiosity-as-a-social-value perspective, suggesting that the self-esteem benefits of religiosity are restricted to religious cultures only. This research extends previous research by showing that the results hold across different measures of religiosity and by providing some initial evidence that the power of the religiosity-as-a-social-value perspective might be larger than formerly assumed.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine meaning in life as an important resource during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper summarized key research establishing links between meaning in life and mental health and well-being variables, reviewed the literature on meaning as a protective factor and meaning-making as a coping mechanism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provided focal points in cultivating meaning in life.
Findings
Studies strongly support the notion that meaning in life is essential for health and well-being. Research also suggests that meaning protects against worsening mental health, and that engaging in meaning-making is a coping process that ultimately leads to improved adjustment despite the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight themes are also identified in cultivating skills to build meaning during adverse times.
Practical implications
Integrating what research has found about meaning, resilience and coping can help individuals develop practical strategies to cultivate meaning in their lives to support themselves and their communities during stressful times.
Originality/value
Understanding the ways in which meaning can support individuals’ health and well-being is critical during a global upheaval such as that of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study explores changes in attitude and coping strategies to some pressures and stressors generated by global social problems, felt at the individual level. The aim of the study was to identify how teenagers / civil society perceive the (difficult) situation that refugees are going through, and how they (teenagers) have adapted to the new reality and design ways out of the crisis in case of would face a similar problem. The specific objectives of the study are 1) how civil society adapted to the pandemic; 2) how civil society adapted to the wave of refugees following the war. The study took place between March 1-15, 2022 and targeted the Dobrogea area, especially Constanţa county.
Background and Aim: Nowadays, Marijuana use is one of the today’s social issues. Official reports show the increase of marijuana use in Iran. The aim of this study is to investigate the biological experience of marijuana use among the young people in Rasht, Iran.
Methods and Data: This study was conducted qualitatively with a phenomenological approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews of 20 young people in Rasht with a history of marijuana use and selected by purposive sampling and they were analyzed using the thematic method.
Findings: Several themes were extracted from the interviews, including moving towards selection, forming repetition, sense of responsibility and position, and confrontation, how the youth of Rasht use their actions to define the meaning of life and express their conceptual views about it.
Conclusion: This study shows that the actors choose Marijuana due to their perception of the functions of its use and the situations that this use provides for them. Marijuana consumption does not play a role in the meaninglessness of actors' lives, but it can be a conscious behavior according to the requirements of life and overcoming repetition, which lead them to choose it so that they can give meaning to their lives in their own opinions.
Key Message: The desire to consume Marijuana in the interviewees despite the social moral standards and the resulting anxiety shows that the actors are involved freely in the choice of their consumption and their action. Based on this, they can take responsibility for their choice of using marijuana.
Pleasantness and meaningfulness are sometimes seen as opposing pursuits. Yet past research has found that the pursuit of meaning often leads to pleasure. In four longitudinal studies-three observational, one experimental, ranging from 5 weeks to 18 months-we investigated an inverse process, whereby specific kinds of pleasant states can foster a sense of meaning in life. We hypothesized that perceptions of positivity resonance, a form of coexperienced positive affect characterized by mutual care and synchrony, are experienced as particularly meaningful in the moment and, over time, build social resources (e.g., supportive relationships and communities) that foster an enduring sense of meaning in life. Results indicate that perceived positivity resonance is associated with perceived meaning both between- and within-persons, links that emerge independently of overall pleasant emotion and social interaction quantity. Perceived social resources mediate between-persons links, and changes in perceived social resources mediate longitudinal links. Overall, these findings suggest that coexperienced, caring, and synchronous pleasant states may be uniquely suited to cultivating a person's sense that life is meaningful. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
Introduction:
A large number of people in China are affected by depression, yet tend to delay seeking treatment. This study aims to explore persons living with depression and their journey of diagnoses and seeking professional medical help in China.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 persons who visiting physicians to be diagnosed and receive professional help from a large mental health center in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China. Individual interviews were conducted and data were analyzed using content analysis.
Results:
Three themes were identified from the findings: (1) "noticed something was wrong"; (2) negotiated decisions with their own narratives and the personal suggestions of others; and (3) gave new meaning to their experiences of depression, whereby they sought medical treatment.
Discussion:
The findings of the study indicated that the impact of progressive depressive symptoms on the participants' daily lives was a strong motivation for them to seek professional help. The obligation to care for and support their family prevented them from initially disclosing their depressive symptoms to family members, but eventually prompted them to seek professional help and persist in follow-up treatment. Some participants experienced unexpected benefits (e.g., relief at no longer feeling "alone") during their first visit to the hospital for depression or when they were diagnosed with depression. The results suggest a need to continue to actively screen for depression and provide more public education to prevent negative assumptions and reduce public and personal stigmatization of those with mental health problems.
Little is known regarding the association between older adults’ use of social apps, such as LINE and WhatsApp, and their feelings of security. According to the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, positive emotions are crucial to life adaptation. This study therefore intends to clarify the association between older adults’ social app use and their feelings of security as well as the associations between such feelings of security and their depression and subjective well-being based on the IS (information systems) success model and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Data were collected from one hundred and seventy-six valid respondents aged between fifty and eighty and analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) approach. The results show that older adults’ user satisfaction with and use of social apps significantly enhance their feelings of security, although the R-square is low. Furthermore, feelings of security significantly increase subjective well-being and decrease depression, a factor which decreases subjective well-being. The results of this study highlight the importance of feelings of security to older adults’ psychological health. These results could provide references for the management of older adults’ psychological health.
The recent statistic reveals the number of Canadian Muslims increases multifold in decades. It is predicted that the Canadian Muslim population will grow significantly. The demographic postures of varied Canadian Muslims offer several features requiring scholarly attention and action from all interested stakeholders to look into the situation. That is to evoke Canadianness among those newly emergent Canadian Muslims who came to Canada as immigrants or born here and grown-up as Muslim. When each boundary is negotiated, the spectrum of Muslimness and Canadian-ness is synthesized in the making. This ongoing situation demands particular action to nurture a sense of belongingness for newly emergent Canadian Muslims to protect and promote Canadian multicultural society amidst external and internal challenges such as Islamophobia and radicalism. Based on scoping reviews on selected pieces of literature, the idea of finding a new model or denomination of Islam in Canada is a convincing step to synthesize Canadianness and Muslimness, which reflect the empirical situation of newly emergent Muslims in Canada. The history of the first mosque built in Canada taught us how the synthesis can be practically applied, how flexible Islam can be genuinely promoted, and the lines of doctrine and cultural difference can be deliberately blurred. This ethos demonstrates compatibility with Canadian values of openness and respect for diversity.
Objective
The primary goal of the present research was to examine whether the relationships that social support demonstrates with both anxiety and depression varied between adults with and without ADD/ADHD in a Canadian sample.
Method
Data were obtained from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health ( N ≥ 16,354). Presence of social support, diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and experience of major depressive episodes (MDEs) were estimated in the self-report ADD/ADHD and non-ADD/ADHD groups.
Results
Although social support was negatively associated with having GAD or experiencing an MDE, and self-report ADD/ADHD was positively associated with these outcomes. Presence of self-report ADD/ADHD did not significantly modify the relationships between social support and GAD or MDE.
Conclusion
Social support may be a protective factor against symptoms of anxiety and depression in the general Canadian population, for adults with and without ADHD.
Objetivo: Determinar el grado de afectación de la carga laboral y el nivel de ansiedad en el personal de enfermería del Hospital General Docente Ambato. Método: de tipo
descriptivo observacional. Resultados: En relaciones sociales, el personal de enfermería 1 (0.6%) determinó alta insatisfacción, 3 (1,8%) parcial insatisfacción y 163 (97.6%)
regular. Conclusión: Se evidenció que existió una relación de la carga laboral y la ansiedad en el personal de enfermería del Hospital General Docente Ambato, Ecuador,
durante el mes de octubre del 2020 y se encontraron datos estadísticos significativos en relación con el tipo de contrato y el grado de acuerdo frente a los lineamientos o normas institucionales asociadas directamente con el trabajador. Los niveles de ansiedad determinados en el presente estudio mostraron un registro significativo con la ansiedad moderada, lo cual determinó que existió un problema da salud pública en el personal.
This review summarizes the current meta-analysis literature on treatment outcomes of CBT for a wide range of psychiatric disorders. A search of the literature resulted in a total of 16 methodologically rigorous meta-analyses. Our review focuses on effect sizes that contrast outcomes for CBT with outcomes for various control groups for each disorder, which provides an overview of the effectiveness of cognitive therapy as quantified by meta-analysis. Large effect sizes were found for CBT for unipolar depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, social phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and childhood depressive and anxiety disorders. Effect sizes for CBT of marital distress, anger, childhood somatic disorders, and chronic pain were in the moderate range. CBT was somewhat superior to antidepressants in the treatment of adult depression. CBT was equally effective as behavior therapy in the treatment of adult depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Large uncontrolled effect sizes were found for bulimia nervosa and schizophrenia. The 16 meta-analyses we reviewed support the efficacy of CBT for many disorders. While limitations of the meta-analytic approach need to be considered in interpreting the results of this review, our findings are consistent with other review methodologies that also provide support for the efficacy CBT.
Several different models postulate that depression is associated with decreased approach-related behavior. Relatively little has been done to date to specifically investigate this issue. In the present study, a signal-detection analysis was used to examine the response biases of dysphoric and nondysphoric female undergraduates during 3 payoff conditions: neutral, reward, and punishment. As predicted, the dysphoric subjects had a smaller change in bias from the neutral to the reward condition compared with the nondysphoric group. The 2 groups did not differ during the neutral and punishment conditions. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the left frontal hypoactivation observed in depression reflects a deficit in approach-related behavior.
Baseline resting electroencephalogram activity was recorded with 3 different reference montages from 15 clinically depressed and 13 control subjects. Power in all frequency bands was extracted by fast Fourier transformation. There was a significant Group × Hemisphere interaction in the midfrontal region, for the alpha band power only. Depressed subjects had less left-sided activation (i.e., more alpha activity) than did normal control subjects. This pattern of diminished left-sided frontal activation is interpreted as indicating a deficit in approach mechanisms in depressed subjects.
We have interpreted the literature showing left anterior hypoactivation in depression as reflecting a decrease in approach-related motivation and behaviour among depressed subjects. In support of this model, we have previously demonstrated a decreased responsiveness to reward in subclinically depressed dysphoric subjects. The current study was designed to replicate and extend those findings. Clinically depressed subjects who met DSM-IV criteria for major depression were compared to a group of nondepressed control subjects on a verbal memory task under three monetary payoff conditions: neutral, reward, and punishment. Although control subjects changed their pattern of responding in both the reward and punishment conditions, relative to the neutral condition, so as to maximise their earnings, depressed subjects did not do so during reward. The two groups did not differ during the punishment condition. These findings provide additional evidence of a decreased responsiveness to reward in depressed individuals, and are consistent with the hypothesis that the left prefrontal hypoactivation observed in depression reflects a deficit in approach-related behaviour.
Responds to comments by A. C. Bohart and T Greening, S. B. Shapiro, G. Bacigalupe, R. Walsh, W. C. Compton, C. L. McLafferty and J. D. Kirylo, N. Abi-Hashem, A. C. Catania, G. K. Lampropoulos, and T. M. Kelley (see records
2002-15384-010,
2002-15384-011,
2002-15384-012,
2002-15384-013,
2002-15384-014,
2002-15384-015,
2002-15384-016,
2002-15384-017,
2002-15384-018, and
2002-15384-019, respectively) on the January 2000, Vol 55(1) special issue of the
American Psychologist dedicated to positive psychology. M. E. P. Seligman and M. Csikszentmihalyi expand on some of the critical themes discussed in the commentaries. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
E. Diener, R. J. Larsen, S. Levine, and R. A. Emmons ( 1985) distinguished between intensity and frequency as separable components in repeatedly measured affect. In this article, an improved way of differentiating intensity and frequency of affect is proposed that permits one to measure affect intensity separately for each emotion of interest. The results of 3 studies using this method provide further support for the affect intensity construct and demonstrate the superiority of the new approach. In addition, a new measure based on intensity ratings of hypothetical scenarios proved to be the best measure of affect intensity when it has to be assessed at I moment in time. Finally, results of 2 diary studies, one sampling emotional events and the other sampling random moments, confirmed the hypothesis that affect intensity is best conceptualized as a disposition to react strongly to emotion-eliciting events rather than to experience intense affect in the absence of goal-relevant situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
propose a model of the intimacy process
the process begins when one person expresses personally revealing feelings of information to another
it continues when the listener responds supportively and empathically
for an interaction to become intimate the discloser must feel understood, validated, and cared for
psychodynamic building blocks / building blocks from communication and exchange research / lay and psychometric conceptions of intimacy (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Counseling psychologists often work with clients to increase their well-being as well as to decrease their distress. One important aspect of well-being, highlighted particularly in humanistic theories of the counseling process, is perceived meaning in life. However, poor measurement has hampered research on meaning in life. In 3 studies, evidence is provided for the internal consistency, temporal stability, factor structure, and validity of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), a new 10-item measure of the presence of, and the search for, meaning in life. A multitrait-multimethod matrix demonstrates the convergent and discriminant validity of the MLQ subscales across time and informants, in comparison with 2 other meaning scales. The MLQ offers several improvements over current meaning in life measures, including no item overlap with distress measures, a stable factor structure, better discriminant validity, a briefer format, and the ability to measure the search for meaning.
For 21 days, 123 participants provided measures of their daily depressogenic adjustment, including Beck’s cognitive triad, causal uncertainty, control over the environment, self-esteem, and anxiety, and they described the positive and negative events that occurred. Daily adjustment negatively covaried with the number of negative events occurring each day and, except as measured by anxiety, positively covaried with positive events. The covariance between negative events and adjustment was stronger than the covariance between positive events and adjustment. Participants also provided measures of depressive symptoms. For the self-esteem and cognitive triad measures, adjustment covaried more strongly with negative and positive events for the depressed than they did for the nondepressed.
This review evaluates evidence of attentional biases in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depressive disorder from studies using modified Stroop and visual probe tasks. There appears to be fairly consistent evidence for an attentional bias for external negative cues in GAD, and for the involvement of non-conscious processes in this bias. By contrast, in clinical depression, the evidence for an attentional bias is less robust, despite depressive disorder being commonly associated with high levels of co-morbid anxiety. Where an attentional bias has been found in depressed patients, it seems to occur mainly for self-relevant negative information which is presented under conditions that allow or encourage elaborative processing. Possible explanations for this discrepant pattern of results, and their theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
We propose that people with negative self-views are rejected because they gravitate to partners who view them unfavorably. In relation to nondepressed college students (n = 28), depressives (n = 13) preferred interaction partners who evaluated them unfavorably (Study 1). Similarly, in relation to nondepressives (n = 106), depressives (n = 10) preferred friends or dating partners who evaluated them unfavorably (Study 2). Dysphorics (n = 6) were more inclined to seek unfavorable feedback from their roommates than were nondepressives (n = 16); feedback-seeking activities of dysphorics were also associated with later rejection (Study 3). Finally, people with negative self-views (n = 37) preferentially solicited unfavorable feedback, although receiving such feedback made them unhappy, in comparison with people with positive self-views (n = 42; Study 4). It seems a desire for self-verification compels people with negative self-views to seek unfavorable appraisals.
Baseline resting electroencephalogram activity was recorded with 3 different reference montages from 15 clinically depressed and 13 control subjects. Power in all frequency bands was extracted by fast Fourier transformation. There was a significant Group X Hemisphere interaction in the mid-frontal region, for the alpha band power only. Depressed subjects had less left-sided activation (i.e., more alpha activity) than did normal control subjects. This pattern of diminished left-sided frontal activation is interpreted as indicating a deficit in approach mechanisms in depressed subjects.
Baseline resting electroencephalogram (EEG) activity was recorded from 6 normothymic depressives and 8 controls using three different reference montages. Power in all frequency bands was extracted by Fourier transformation. Significant Group X Region X Hemisphere interactions were found consistently for alpha band power only. Previously depressed subjects had less left-sided anterior and less right-sided posterior activation (i.e., more alpha activity) than did never depressed subjects. Previously depressed subjects had no history of pharmacological treatment and did not differ from controls in emotional state at the time of testing. The pattern of anterior and posterior asymmetry in the previously depressed subjects is similar to that found in acutely depressed subjects and suggests that this may be a state-independent marker for depression.
A hypothesized need to form and maintain strong, stable interpersonal relationships is evaluated in light of the empirical literature. The need is for frequent, nonaversive interactions within an ongoing relational bond. Consistent with the belongingness hypothesis, people form social attachments readily under most conditions and resist the dissolution of existing bonds. Belongingness appears to have multiple and strong effects on emotional patterns and on cognitive processes. Lack of attachments is linked to a variety of ill effects on health, adjustment, and well-being. Other evidence, such as that concerning satiation, substitution, and behavioral consequences, is likewise consistent with the hypothesized motivation. Several seeming counterexamples turned out not to disconfirm the hypothesis. Existing evidence supports the hypothesis that the need to belong is a powerful, fundamental, and extremely pervasive motivation.
The present study examined the relationships between depressive symptoms and everyday social interaction in a nonclinical population. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and social interaction was measured using a variant of the Rochester Interaction Record. People who were classified as at risk for depression had less rewarding interactions than people who were not at risk. Depressive symptoms and interaction quantity and quality were negatively correlated for participants above the cutpoint, whereas they were uncorrelated for those below the at-risk cutpoint. The results also suggested that, compared with nondepressed people, depressed people derive more rewards from interactions with their closest opposite-sex friends, relative to the rewards they derive from interactions with other opposite-sex friends.
Self-esteem lability (SEL), defined as daily event-related variability in state self-esteem, and low trait self-esteem (TSE) were assessed among 205 male and female undergraduates who were currently depressed (CD), previously depressed (PD), and never depressed (ND). SEL scores were derived for the effect of positive, negative, and combined events on state self-esteem over 30 days. Consistent with psychodynamic and cognitive theories, SEL was found to be a better index of depression proneness than TSE. PD Ss showed higher lability on all SEL scores than ND controls but did not differ from controls on TSE. Ss were reassessed 5 months later, and new cases showed higher premorbid SEL than ND controls but did not differ from controls on premorbid TSE. SEL at Time 1 was found to increase risk for depression at Time 2 among Ss reporting high life stress at Time 2. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.
For 21 days, 123 undergraduates provided measures of their self-esteem, anxiety, causal uncertainty, perceived control over outcomes, and the three constructs comprising A. T. Beck's (1972) cognitive triad. Factor analyses of measures of the mean level and day-to-day instability of these constructs produced 2 factors, level of well-being and day-to-day instability of well-being. Participants also provided 4 measures of risk for depression over 2 1/2 months. For participants who were not at risk for depression, level of day-to-day well-being was negatively related to risk for depression, and this effect was not moderated by day-to-day instability. In contrast, for participants who were classified as at-risk for depression, day-to-day instability of well-being moderated the strength of the negative relationship between level of well-being and risk for depression. The relationship between level of well-being and depression was stronger for participants who were more unstable.
E. Diener, R. J. Larsen, S. Levine, and R. A. Emmons ( 1985) distinguished between intensity and frequency as separable components in repeatedly measured affect. In this article, an improved way of differentiating intensity and frequency of affect is proposed that permits one to measure affect intensity separately for each emotion of interest. The results of 3 studies using this method provide further support for the affect intensity construct and demonstrate the superiority of the new approach. In addition, a new measure based on intensity ratings of hypothetical scenarios proved to be the best measure of affect intensity when it has to be assessed at I moment in time. Finally, results of 2 diary studies, one sampling emotional events and the other sampling random moments, confirmed the hypothesis that affect intensity is best conceptualized as a disposition to react strongly to emotion-eliciting events rather than to experience intense affect in the absence of goal-relevant situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This article reports the development and validation of a scale to measure global life satisfaction, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Among the various components of subjective well-being, the SWLS is narrowly focused to assess global life satisfaction and does not tap related constructs such as positive affect or loneliness. The SWLS is shown to have favorable psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and high temporal reliability. Scores on the SWLS correlate moderately to highly with other measures of subjective well-being, and correlate predictably with specific personality characteristics. It is noted that the SWLS is suited for use with different age groups, and other potential uses of the scale are discussed.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field:
ID - 2
We conceptualized affective reactivity to daily interpersonal stressors as an index of interpersonal sensitivity and evaluated it as a vulnerability factor for depression. College students completed an initial measure of depression (Time 1). Then, at the end of each day for two weeks, they completed a checklist of daily stressors and measures of state affect. Two months later (Time 2), students completed the depression measure again as well as a questionnaire that assessed life events for the intervening two months. We conducted regression analyses to predict Time 1-Time 2 changes in depressive symptoms. Our major predictions were positive main effects for Time 1 affective reactivity to daily interpersonal stressors and Time 2 negative interpersonal events, and a significant effect for the reactivity × Time 2 events interaction. Significant results were obtained for the two main effects, but not for the interaction. The results suggest that affective reactivity to daily interpersonal stressors is a predictor of depressive symptoms and demonstrate the heuristic value of a daily process design to study the antecedents of psychopathology.
The CES-D scale is a short self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptomatology in the general population. The items of the scale are symptoms associated with depression which have been used in previously validated longer scales. The new scale was tested in household interview surveys and in psychiatric settings. It was found to have very high internal consistency and adequate test- retest repeatability. Validity was established by pat terns of correlations with other self-report measures, by correlations with clinical ratings of depression, and by relationships with other variables which support its construct validity. Reliability, validity, and factor structure were similar across a wide variety of demographic characteristics in the general population samples tested. The scale should be a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of de pression.
Nothing is more familiar to people than their moods and emotions. Oddly, however, it is not clear how these two kinds of affective processes are related. Intuitively, it makes sense that emotional reactions are stronger when they are congruent with a preexisting mood, an idea reinforced by contemporary emotion theory. Yet empirically, it is uncertain whether moods actually facilitate emotional reactivity to mood-congruent stimuli. One approach to the question of how moods affect emotions is to study mood-disturbed individuals. This review describes recent experimental studies of emotional reactivity conducted with individuals suffering from major depression. Counter to intuitions, major depression is associated with reduced emotional reactivity to sad contexts. A novel account of emotions in depression is advanced to assimilate these findings. Implications for the study of depression and normal mood variation are considered.
Reigning measures of psychological well-being have little theoretical grounding, despite an extensive literature on the contours of positive functioning. Aspects of well-being derived from this literature (i.e., self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth) were operationalized. Three hundred and twenty-one men and women, divided among young, middle-aged, and older adults, rated themselves on these measures along with six instruments prominent in earlier studies (i.e., affect balance, life satisfaction, self-esteem, morale, locus of control, depression). Results revealed that positive relations with others, autonomy, purpose in life, and personal growth were not strongly tied to prior assessment indexes, thereby supporting the claim that key aspects of positive functioning have not been represented in the empirical arena. Furthermore, age profiles revealed a more differentiated pattern of well-being than is evident in prior research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 56(2) of
Journal of Counseling Psychology (see record
2009-04542-008). The DOI was incorrect. The correct DOI is 10.1037/a0013317.] Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) persons come from diverse cultural groups with diverse racial and ethnic identities. However, most research on LGBQ persons has used primarily White samples, and most research on African Americans has used largely heterosexual samples. Thus, research has largely failed to attend to and investigate the complexity of African American LGBQ persons' experiences. This study examined the relations between multiple internalized oppressions and African American sexual minority persons' self-esteem and psychological distress. Results indicated that when examined together, internalized racism and internalized heterosexism (also known as internalized homophobia) were both significant negative predictors of self-esteem, but only internalized heterosexism was a unique positive predictor of psychological distress. The interaction of internalized racism and internalized heterosexism was not a significant predictor of self-esteem or psychological distress. Finally, the authors' findings indicate that self-esteem partially mediates the relationship between internalized heterosexism and psychological distress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Personal relationships are frequently studied using methods and analyses that reflect an interest in relationships as between-persons phenomena. Although informative, there is much to be learned from examining relational phenomena from a within-persons perspective. The present article reviews the application of within-persons approaches to both the conceptualization and investigation of relational phenomena. The benefits of studying variation in psychologically meaningful constructs across multiple relationships, across different contexts within a relationship, and across time are outlined. Moreover, combinations of between- and within-persons strategies that can examine how relational, contextual, and temporal variation differs across people are discussed. Methodological and statistical considerations important to such designs are also outlined, and their limitations are discussed.
There are more truths in twenty-four hours of a man's life than in all the philosophies.
—Raoul Vaniegem (1967/1979)
A meta-analysis of 40 findings from 36 studies (N= 4,952) provided substantial overall support for the proposition that depressive symptoms and mood are contagious. Contagion appeared most pronounced in studies of depressive symptoms (vs. depressive mood). Contagion of depressive mood appears to depend on methodological approach, with strongest to weakest results in the following order: transcript studies, audio/ videotape studies, studies using actual strangers, studies using actual friends/acquaintances, and confederate studies. Contagion of depressed mood/symptoms held across combinations of target × respondent gender. There was very tentative evidence that contagion was specific to depressive versus other symptom/moods. Based in part on our meta-analytic findings, we summarize possible explanations of the phenomenon from cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal viewpoints and elucidate some clinical implications.
The study was an attempt to extend Aaron Beck's formulation of the sociotropic and autonomous vulnerabilities involved in depressogenesis to a population experiencing depressive symptoms due to adjustment related difficulties, namely freshman college students beginning their first semester. The results obtained from 167 college freshmen, assessed 6–7 weeks after beginning their first semester at college, were generally consistent with the research predictions. Specifically, sociotropic persons displayed the classic symptoms of “homesickness” in that they were more likely to be preoccupied about home and display depressive symptoms after the transition to college. Attachment to home scores also mediated effects of sociotropy on depression. By contrast, autonomous persons were less attached to home, although they did report depressive symptoms as a result of the transition. Exploring this trend, it was observed that autonomy was related to disliking the university scores which did meditate indirect effects of autonomy on depression.
Baumeister and Tice's (this issue) social exclusion theory of anxiety proposes that a primary source of anxiety is perceived exclusion from important social groups. This article elaborates the basic propositions of social exclusion theory, then applies the theory to a broader analysis of affective reactions to exclusion. Specifically, the article examines the relationship between perceived social exclusion and social anxiety, jealousy, loneliness, and depression. The function of self-esteem and its role in moderating reactions to perceived exclusion are also discussed.
Sense of belonging has recently been described and defined as one specific interpersonal process that influences health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between sense of belonging and personal characteristics and selected indicators of social and psychological functioning in men and women. Using a sample of 379 community college students, sense of belonging was examined in relation to social support, conflict, involvement in community activities, attendance at religious services, loneliness, depression, anxiety, history of psychiatric treatment, and suicidality. Results indicated that sense of belonging is closely related to indicators of both social and psychological functioning. These relationships were generally stronger for women than for men. It appears that sense of belonging is a useful concept pertinent to exploration of social and psychological functioning.
Eudaimonic theories of well-being assert the importance of achieving one’s full potential through engaging in inherently meaningful endeavors. In two daily diary studies, we assessed whether reports of engagement in behaviors representative of eudaimonic theories were associated with well-being. We also examined whether eudaimonic behaviors were more strongly related to well-being than behaviors directed toward obtaining pleasure or material goods. In both studies, eudaimonic behaviors had consistently stronger relations to well-being than hedonic behaviors. Data also provided support for a temporal sequence in which eudaimonic behaviors were related to greater well-being the next day. Overall, our results suggest that “doing good” may be an important avenue by which people create meaningful and satisfying lives.
Although the concept of self-esteem plays a crucial role in current vulnerability models of depression, empirical studies have found that overall level of self-esteem is not a robust predictor of the onset of the disorder. To resolve this discrepancy we propose a multidimensional model of self-esteem in depression. Psychodynamic, cognitive, and social-environmental models each imply that the nature of vulnerable self-esteem is considerably more complex than simply level (i.e., high vs. low self-esteem) and that other dimensions might be more causally important. According to this multidimensional approach, vulnerability includes (a) structural deficits, such as few, rigid, or externally based sources of self-worth; (b) abnormally low self-esteem that is “primed” by either mildly depressed mood, stressful events, or schema-congruent experiences; and (c) temporal instability of self-worth. We review theoretical and empirical evidence relevant to this model.
Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that an understanding of human motivation requires a consideration of innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. We discuss the SDT concept of needs as it relates to previous need theories, emphasizing that needs specify the necessary conditions for psychological growth, integrity, and well-being. This concept of needs leads to the hypotheses that different regulatory processes underlying goal pursuits are differentially associated with effective functioning and well-being and also that different goal contents have different relations to the quality of behavior and mental health, specifically because different regulatory processes and different goal contents are associated with differing degrees of need satisfaction. Social contexts and individual differences that support satisfaction of the basic needs facilitate natural growth processes including intrinsically motivated behavior and integration of extrinsic motivations, whereas those that forestall autonomy, competence, or relatedness are associated with poorer motivation, performance, and well-being. We also discuss the relation of the psychological needs to cultural values, evolutionary processes, and other contemporary motivation theories.
This article reviews the cognitive therapy of depression. The psychotherapy based on this theory consists of behavioral and verbal techniques to change cognitions, beliefs, and errors in logic in the patient's thinking. A few of the various techniques are described and a case example is provided. Finally, the outcome studies testing the efficacy of this approach are reviewed.
Tested the hypotheses that (a) normal Ss respond differentially to the behavior of depressed patients, (b) this differential response is due to the fact that the target individuals are depressed, and not that they are patients, and (c) this pattern can be related to the symptomatology of depression. Each of 45 normal female undergraduates conversed on the telephone with either a depressed patient ( n = 15), a nondepressed patient ( n = 15), or a normal control ( n = 15). It was found that following the phone conversation, Ss who had spoken to depressed patients were themselves significantly more depressed, anxious, hostile, and rejecting. Measures of activity, approval responses, hope statements, and genuineness did not distinguish between S groups or between target groups, but important differences were found in the Ss' perception of the patients. It was proposed that environmental response may play an important role in the maintenance of depressed behavior. Furthermore, special skills may be required of the depressed person to cope with the environment his behavior creates. (21 ref)
Kubler and Stotland (1964) have argued, 'emotional disturbance, even the most severe, cannot be understood unless the field in which it develops and exists is examined. The manifestations of the difficulty in the disturbed individual have meaning depending on aspects of the field. The significant aspects of the field are usually interpersonal'. Yet the study of depression has focused on the individual and his behavior out of his interactional context. To a large degree, the depressed person's monotonously reiterated complaints and self accusations, and his provocative and often annoying behavior have distracted investigators from considerations of his environment and the role it may play in the maintenance of his behavior. The possibility that the characteristic pattern of depressed behavior might be interwoven and concatenated with a corresponding pattern in the response of others has seldom been explored. This paper addresses itself to that possibility.
A model of a recovery process from depression that is compatible with the hopelessness theory of depressive onset is proposed. This model predicts that depressives who have an enhancing attributional style for positive events (i.e., make global, stable attributions for such events) will be more likely to regain hopefulness and, thereby, recover from depression, when positive events occur. This prediction was tested by following a group of depressed college students longitudinally for 6 weeks. Although neither positive events alone nor attributional style alone predicted reduction in hopelessness, depressives who both showed the enhancing attributional style for positive events and experienced more positive events showed dramatic reductions in hopelessness which were accompanied by remission of depressive symptoms. Thus, attributional style for positive events may be a factor that enables some depressives to recover when positive events occur in their lives.
In this article we attempt to distinguish empirically between psychosocial variables that are concomitants of depression, and variables that may serve as antecedents or sequelae of this disorder. We review studies that investigated the relationship between depression and any of six psychosocial variables after controlling for the effects of concurrent depression. The six variables examined are attributional style, dysfunctional attitudes, personality, social support, marital distress, and coping style. The review suggests that whereas there is little evidence in adults of a cognitive vulnerability to clinical depression, disturbances in interpersonal functioning may be antecedents or sequelae of this disorder. Specifically, marital distress and low social integration appear to be involved in the etiology of depression, and introversion and interpersonal dependency are identified as enduring abnormalities in the functioning of remitted depressives. We attempt to integrate what is known about the relationships among these latter variables, suggest ways in which they may influence the development of depression, and outline specific issues to be addressed in future research.
Interpersonal aspects of depression have received considerable research attention in the past 2 decades. This work often has been guided by J. C. Coyne's (1976b) interactional model of depression or P. M. Lewinsohn's (1974) social skill deficit theory of depression. A review of this research indicates that depressed people reliably experience rejection from those in their social environment and that depression generally is associated with impairments in so