Identification with social groups is associated with mental health in adolescents: Evidence from a Scottish community sample

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

Herrera

et al. 2017

Self Cite

A large literature has provided evidence of the social cure: a positive relationship between group identification (a sense of group belonging) and mental wellbeing, commonly measured in terms of levels of depression, anxiety, or stress. However, non-clinical populations may experience other symptoms of mental distress, including paranoia. We hypothesized that since group identification promotes satisfying and supportive relationships (something paranoid individuals appear to lack), there should be a negative relationship between family identification and paranoid ideation. We confirmed this in a cross-sectional study with Cypriot students (N = 108) and in a two-wave longitudinal study with Spanish students (N = 206). The second study also revealed that family identification predicts paranoia

Section: Group Identification and Mental Healthsupporting

confidence: 66%

Section: Aim and Overview Of Researchmentioning

confidence: 96%

On the Association Between Greater Family Identification and Lower Paranoid Ideation Among Non-Clinical Individuals: Evidence From Cypriot and Spanish Students

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

Herrera

et al. 2017

Self Cite

“…One of the only papers to address this issue was by Miller et al (2015), and involved recruiting Scottish secondary school pupils. The authors assessed the participants' identification with three separate groups: their family, their school, and their main friendship group.…”

Section: The Relevance Of Multiple Group Identificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship Between Group Identification and Satisfaction with Life in a Cross-Cultural Community Sample

Madhok³

et al. 2016

J Happiness Stud

Self Cite

A variety of studies have shown that group identification (a sense of belonging to one's social group, coupled with a sense of commonality with the group's members) is linked to high levels of satisfaction with life (SWL). The aim of the present study was to support and extend this literature by: (1) investigating the link between group identification and SWL with a large cross-cultural community sample; (2) examining whether the relationship is moderated by nationality; and (3) considering whether SWL is enhanced by possessing multiple group identifications simultaneously. Utilizing data from Wave 1 of the Health in Groups project, 3829 participants from both Scotland and Italy completed a questionnaire assessing their identification with their family, their local community, and a group of their choice, as well as their level of SWL. Higher identification with each group predicted higher SWL. Nationality was a marginal moderator of the relationship between family identification and SWL, with the relationship being stronger for Italian participants than for Scottish participants. There was also an additive effect of group identification, with a positive relationship between the number of groups with which participants identified and their SWL. These effects were obtained even after controlling for gender, age, employment status, nationality, and extent of contact with each group. The implications for healthcare professionals and their patients are discussed.

“… in their study), there may be groups that are more immediately relevant to adolescents than the nation (which was the final group considered by Benish‐Weisman et al .). Indeed, various studies have suggested that the family, the school, and friends tend to be the most central groups in adolescents’ lives (Miller, Wakefield, & Sani, ; Sawyer et al ., ). Moreover, we know that the friendship group tends to become increasingly important during adolescence – often more so than other groups (Hogg et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

On the reciprocal effects between multiple group identifications and mental health: A longitudinal study of Scottish adolescents

Miller

British J Clinic Psychol

2017

Self Cite

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the link between social group identification and mental health outcomes in a sample of secondary school pupils. Based on previous work, it was predicted that multiple high group identifications would protect against psychological ill health. Furthermore, it was predicted that better mental health would also predict greater number of group identifications, thus creating a ‘virtuous circle’. Design A longitudinal questionnaire design was used. Methods A total of 409 Scottish secondary school pupils aged 13–17 completed a questionnaire twice over a year. Pupils’ responses regarding their mental health and the extent of their identification with three groups (the family, school, and friends) were measured. Results A path analysis of the data showed that greater number of high group identifications predicted better mental health outcomes amongst participants. However, better mental health also predicted greater number of high group identifications, suggesting that there is a cyclical relationship between both variables. Conclusions The findings have both theoretical and practical implications. They highlight the importance of conceptualizing the link between group identification and mental health as cyclical, rather than unidirectional. This reconceptualization has implications for mental health promotion strategies, as it highlights the importance of attempting to turn a potentially ‘vicious cycle’ of social disidentification and mental ill health into a ‘virtuous cycle’ of social identification and mental health. Practitioner points Results showed that in a population of 409 high school pupils, the more high group identifications pupils had, the better their mental health outcomes. Better mental health also predicted a greater number of high group identifications over time. The findings suggest that we would benefit from conceptualizing the relationship between group identification and mental outcomes as being cyclical rather than unidirectional. Viewing the relationship between group identification and mental health in this way enables us to consider interventions which help turn a ‘vicious cycle’ into a ‘virtuous cycle’. Limitations A potential limitation of the work relates to the use of self‐report questionnaires which may elicit socially desirable responses. The sample only consists of high school pupils from mainstream public schools within Scotland.