Depression and Social Identity: An Integrative Review

"I'm more than my sport": Exploring the dynamic processes of identity change in athletic retirement

Retirement is one of the most impactful career transitions athletes face. Researchers recognise the role that athletic identity plays in this, but analysis of identity content and change processes is limited. Addressing this gap, we conducted a qualitative study exploring the experience of identity change in 21 competitive and successful elite athletes who had retired from sport. All participated in a one-session psychoeducational program that explored the challenges of transitioning out of sport before being interviewed about their understanding of identity in sport, and their experiences negotiating identity loss and change in retirement. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three themes: (i) the role of identity and self-categorizations in shaping sport performance, (ii) adjusting to identity loss (with subthemes indicating that this experience varied depending on the extent to which a person had multiple or exclusive identities), and (iii) attempts to remoor identity in the transition (with subthemes of searching for a new identity and actively repurposing identity). We interpret these themes through the lens of the Social Identity Model of Identity Change and show that this provides a framework for extending our understanding the complexities of identity change associated with retirement from elite sport.

The experience of stigma related to hearing loss and hearing aids: perspectives of adults with hearing loss, their families, and hearing care professionals

OBJECTIVES

To explore when and how stigma-induced identity threat is experienced by adults with hearing loss (HL) and their family members (affiliate stigma) from the perspectives of adults with HL, their family members, and hearing care professionals.

DESIGN

Qualitative descriptive methodology with semi-structured interviews.

STUDY SAMPLE

Adults with acquired HL (n = 20), their nominated family members (n = 20), and hearing care professionals (n = 25).

RESULTS

All groups of participants believed that both HL and hearing aids were associated with stigma for adults with HL. Two themes were identified, specifically: (1) an association between HL and hearing aids and the stereotypes of ageing, disability, and difference; and (2) varied views on the existence and experience of stigma for adults with HL. Hearing care professionals focused on the stigma of hearing aids more than HL, whereas adult participants focused on stigma of HL. Family member data indicated that they experienced little affiliate stigma.

CONCLUSIONS

Stigma-induced identity threat related to HL and, to a lesser extent, hearing aids exists for adults with HL. Shared perceptions that associate HL and hearing aids with ageing stereotypes were reported to contribute to the identity threat, as were some situational cues and personal characteristics.

Social group connections support mental health following wildfire

PURPOSE

As environmental disasters become more common and severe due to climate change, there is a growing need for strategies to bolster recovery that are proactive, cost-effective, and which mobilise community resources.

AIMS

We propose that building social group connections is a particularly promising strategy for supporting mental health in communities affected by environmental disasters.

METHODS

We tested the social identity model of identity change in a disaster context among 627 people substantially affected by the 2019-2020 Australian fires.

RESULTS

We found high levels of post-traumatic stress, strongly related to severity of disaster exposure, but also evidence of psychological resilience. Distress and resilience were weakly positively correlated. Having stronger social group connections pre-disaster was associated with less distress and more resilience 12-18 months after the disaster, via three pathways: greater social identification with the disaster-affected community, greater continuity of social group ties, and greater formation of new social group ties. New group ties were a mixed blessing, positively predicting both resilience and distress.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that investment in social resources is key to supporting mental health outcomes, not just reactively in the aftermath of disasters, but also proactively in communities most at risk.

Unveiling the psychological mechanisms of mutual help groups for addiction recovery: The role of social identity factors

The effectiveness of mutual help groups (MHGs) in promoting addiction recovery has been widely acknowledged. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying the impact of MHGs remain somewhat uncertain. Drawing on a social identity perspective, this study investigated a sequential mediation model in which social support is posited as a driving factor that enhances abstinence maintenance through group identification, recovery identity, and self-efficacy. A sample of 820 smokers, participating in a 6-month collective smoking cessation programme which included access to an online help group, completed measures of social support, group identification, smoker/ex-smoker identity, and self-efficacy at the programme's outset. Smoking abstinence was assessed 6 and 9 months later. The findings supported the proposed model, indicating that social support was positively associated with MHG identification, which, in turn, was related to a stronger recovery identity. Subsequently, recovery identity was associated with increased self-efficacy, and indirectly, with smoking abstinence at both measurement times. Additional analyses testing alternative mediation models further supported the validity of the proposed model. These findings suggest that social identity factors play significant roles in accounting for the effectiveness of MHGs for addiction recovery.

Social identity, mental health and the experience of migration

Evidence suggests that social identities, which provide purpose and a sense of belonging, enhance resilience against psychological strain and safeguard well-being. This applies to first-generation migrant populations facing adverse experiences, including prejudice and disconnection from previous identities during host country integration, negatively impacting their well-being. The importance of social identity also extends to first-generation migrant descendants, confronting dual-identity challenges and experiencing exclusion and discrimination despite being native born. Building on the social identity approach to mental health, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate how migrants construct their social identities, their perspective on the challenges and changes they experience in relation to group memberships and ultimately, the influence this has on their psychological well-being. Findings emphasize the significance of social identity continuity and gain pathways in first-generation migrants' successful adjustment and psychological well-being. For second-generation migrants, dual-identity development is especially difficult during adolescence due to social exclusion and discrimination in schools. Even in early adulthood, pressure to maintain heritage identity can lead to negative mental health outcomes over time. The current study contributes to and strengthens the social identity approach to migrant mental health and has wider implications for psychological interventions and policy.

Drug network identification predicts injecting risk behavior among people who inject drugs on hepatitis C virus treatment in Tayside, Scotland

The risk of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) acquisition among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) remains high when injecting risk behavior within networks endures. Several psychosocial factors influence such behavior. Following a drive within Tayside, a geographic region in Scotland, to achieve World Health Organization HCV elimination targets, addressing HCV re-infection risk as a barrier to elimination is critically important. This cross-sectional study seeks to address this barrier to elimination by investigating associations between group identification (one's subjective sense of belonging and connectedness to a social group coupled with a sense of shared goals, beliefs and values with the other members of the group) and injecting risk behavior among PWID on HCV treatment at needle and syringe provision sites in Tayside. Participants completed psychosocial questionnaires between treatment weeks zero and three of treatment. Correlation analyses were undertaken, and significant factors included in multiple linear regression models for injecting risk behavior. Injecting frequency, drug network identification, and family identification, were correlated with injecting risk behavior, and drug network identification had a positive predictive on injecting risk behavior. Identification with a social group, conventionally associated with improved health, may pose health risks in specific contexts. Healthcare providers should consider stratifying individuals with higher group identification with PWID networks for enhanced harm reduction engagement to mitigate transmissible infection risk among PWID. Additionally, psychological interventions to strengthen group identification with networks which impact positively on health behavior should be explored.

Multiple social identities and well-being: Insights from a person-centred approach

Recent research on social identity and identity integration suggests that individuals who have multiple identities and who also successfully integrate them are better adjusted. We combine predictions from these studies and examine how social identification, together with identity integration, are related to psychological well-being using a person-centred approach. A first study (N = 2705) showed that the identity configuration characterized by high levels of identification with organization and gender, as well as the perception that these identities are well integrated, is associated with the highest level of well-being. Conversely, the identity configuration characterized by low scores on gender and organization identifications and low levels of identity integration was associated with the lowest levels of well-being. These findings were replicated in a second study (N = 8987) where organization and age-group identification were analysed. We discuss the implications of these findings for the literatures on multiple social identities, identity integration and organizational climate.

A latent profile analysis of the nature of social group memberships and their contribution to retirement outcomes

Positive experiences of groups (e.g., the extent to which groups are important and supportive) tend to be associated with better retirement adjustment outcomes. However, group experiences are not always positive, and we know little about their varied contribution to adjustment outcomes. We addressed this gap by exploring the nature of social group memberships - in terms of varying positive and negative experiences of groups - to better understand how social group memberships shape retirement adjustment, life satisfaction and mental health. A latent profile analysis (using data from 489 retirees and their membership of 1887 groups) identified four profiles of social group memberships: optimal (63%), slightly straining (13%), low-supportive (18%) and ambivalent (6%). Subsequent regression analysis showed that these different profiles of group membership were differentially associated with retirement adjustment outcomes: belonging to more optimal groups was associated with better perceived adjustment, higher life satisfaction and better mental health, while belonging to slightly straining and ambivalent groups contributed to poorer adjustment, lower life satisfaction and greater depression. These findings have implications for theory and practice, not least because they advance our understanding of the diversity of people's group memberships and their contribution to retirement and health outcomes.

Discrimination and social identity processes predict impairment and dysfunction among heavy drinkers

BACKGROUND

Previous research has linked discrimination to poorer health. Yet health risk behaviours such as heavy alcohol consumption are often targeted with stigmatising public health campaigns. The current study sought to establish the link between experiencing discrimination and health outcomes among heavy drinkers, with a focus on exploring the multiple social identity processes that might underpin this relationship.

METHODS

A survey was conducted with 282 people who self-reported consuming alcohol above recommended guidelines. We measured discrimination experienced as a drinker, components of social identification as a drinker (centrality, satisfaction, solidarity, homogeneity, and self-stereotyping), and two health outcomes: psychological distress and severity of alcohol use disorder symptomatology.

RESULTS

Discrimination was a moderate-large predictor of psychological distress and alcohol use disorder symptoms. Three social identity constructs were implicated in the link between discrimination and ill-health: identity centrality and homogeneity positively mediated this relationship while identity satisfaction was a negative mediator. The model explained a large proportion of the variance (39-47%) in health outcomes.

DISCUSSION

Results are interpreted with an emphasis on the need to avoid stigmatising messaging and to prioritise social identity processes to prevent and treat substance use disorders. We further highlight the need for social identity researchers to consider the multidimensional nature of social identities, especially in the context of stigmatised groups.

Connection and recovery in the COVID-19 age: An analysis of changes in goal-setting throughout the pandemic by consumers living with enduring mental illness

Goal-setting is a tool that empowers consumer recovery. Though the pandemic has affected consumer goal-setting, the nature and extent of this impact have not been examined in a recovery setting. The aim of this study is to assess whether the recovery goals of individuals with serious mental illness changed in association with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this mixed-methods design, data were collected from a purposeful sample of consumers (nTOTAL  = 355) aged 19-67 years (MAGE  = 44.56, SD = 13.05) attending Recovery Camp, a 5-day therapeutic-recreation programme for individuals living with severe mental illness (e.g., PTSD, schizophrenia). Consumer-set goals were examined across 5 programmes prior to March 2020 (nPRE  = 126) and 11 following (nPOST  = 229). Goals were set on day one, with attainment self-scored on day five. Chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests compared goal proportions per domain; tests of independence assessed changes in goals pre- and post-pandemic. Six goal domains were identified: Approach-Based Recovery, Avoidance-based Recovery, Novel Physical Activities, Relationships, Health, and Recreation/Relaxation. Irrespective of the pandemic, goal attainment was consistently high across all programmes (86.56%). Approach-based Recovery goals were predominant pre-pandemic, but were significantly reduced post-pandemic (p = 0.040). Goals related to Relationships and Novel Physical Activities took precedence throughout the pandemic. Post-COVID-19, consumer recovery goals reveal increased desire for connection, novelty-seeking, and positive behavioural change.

The identification environment matters: Students' social identification, perceived physical school environment, and anxiety - A cross-level interaction model

The social identity approach to health argues that well-being depends on the psychosocial circumstances of the groups to which individuals belong. However, little is known about how the average level of identification in the group - 'the identification environment' - buffers the negative health consequences of stressors. We used multilevel modelling to investigate whether identification environment in a school modified the association between the students' perceptions of the quality of their school's physical environment and their reported levels of anxiety. In two representative samples of Finnish school students (N = 678 schools/71,392 students; N = 704 schools/85,989 students), weak identification environment was related to increased anxiety. In addition, in schools where identification environment was weaker, the student level relationship between perceived physical environment and anxiety was stronger, and students were more anxious. Our results provide evidence that identification environment needs to be considered when we analyse how group membership affects well-being.

A mixed methods systematic review of mental health self-care strategies for Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants

BACKGROUND

Self-care strategies can improve mental health and wellbeing, however, the evidence on preferred strategies among Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants is unclear. This mixed methods systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise the global research on mental health self-care strategies used by these populations.

METHODS

English and Arabic language studies reporting on positive mental health self-care strategies to address symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety and depression in the target populations were identified by systematically searching eight electronic databases and grey literature. Studies were deemed eligible if they were published from 2000 onwards and included Arabic-speaking migrants, refugees or asylum seekers aged 12 years and above. A narrative synthesis of study characteristics and relevant key findings was undertaken. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021265456).

RESULTS

Fifty-nine records reporting 57 studies were identified, the majority appearing after 2019. There were 37 intervention studies that incorporated a self-care component and 20 observational studies that reported on self-generated self-care practices. Across both study types, four broad groups of mental health self-care were identified-social, psychological, religious/spiritual, and other (e.g., expressive arts and exercise). Psychological strategies were the most reported self-care practice overall and featured in all intervention studies. Religious/spiritual and social strategies were more common in the observational studies. Intervention studies in diverse settings reported statistical improvements on a range of outcome measures. Observational studies reported a range of individual and community benefits. Linguistic, cultural and religious considerations, inherent in the observational studies, were variably addressed in the individual and group interventions.

CONCLUSION

Overall, study participants experienced self-care as helpful although some encountered challenges in practicing their preferred strategies. Further research on mental health self-care strategies among Arabic-speaking refugees and migrants is needed in Western resettlement countries to guide mental health service delivery and primary healthcare initiatives for new arrivals and in transit countries.

Looking through the lens of stigma: Understanding and anticipating concerns about the responsible development and use of psychiatric electroceutical interventions (PEIs)

Psychiatric electroceutical interventions (PEIs) show promise for treating depression, but few studies have examined stakeholders' views on them. Using interview data and survey data that analyzed the views of psychiatrists, patients, caregivers, and the general public, a conceptual map was created to represent stakeholders' views on four PEIs: electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and adaptive brain implants (ABIs). Stigma emerged as a key theme connecting diverse views, revealing that it is a significant factor in the acceptance and usage of PEIs. Stigma not only discourages seeking mental health services for depression but also inhibits the acceptance of PEIs. Addressing the pervasive and complex effects of stigma highlights the need to change societal attitudes toward mental illnesses and their treatments and to provide support to patients who may benefit from these interventions. The map also demonstrates the value of conceptual mapping for anticipating and mitigating ethical considerations in the development and use of PEIs.

Social identification, identity integration and wellbeing in people who hear voices

OBJECTIVES

Hearing voices is associated with public stigma and this can influence readiness to identify as a voice hearer (VH) and psychological wellbeing. In this study, we investigated the relationships between a VH social identity, the integration of that identity with other important social identities and wellbeing.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study, with a subset of longitudinal data across three time points.

METHODS

People who self-identified as voice hearers completed questionnaires (VH social identity, identity integration, wellbeing and perceptions of in-group and out-group empathy) at three time points, spaced at 3-monthly intervals. The final sample comprised 182 participants at T1, 91 at T2 and 75 at T3. Hierarchical linear multiple regression analyses were used to test all hypotheses.

RESULTS

The integration of a VH social identity was strongly associated with better psychological wellbeing at T1. Identity integration was also associated with static wellbeing scores at 6 months. Effects on wellbeing were not accounted for by either severity of voice-hearing or paranoia. Whilst perceptions of in-group empathy were associated with VH social identification, perceptions of outgroup empathy were important for identity integration.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrating a VH social identity with other important identities into a coherent sense of self is important for wellbeing in voice hearers; perceived in-group and outgroup empathy are important in this process.

Collective action mitigates the negative effects of COVID-19 threat and anti-abortion restrictions on mental health

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives in many different domains, forcing people to adapt to countrywide lockdowns, school shutdowns, and business closures. The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted also in deterioration of mental health. At the same time, political conflicts and social inequalities was reinforced and many people engaged in demonstrations to fight for their rights. This study examines whether collective acting for an important cause during the pandemic might mitigate the impact of both political tension related to anti-abortion restrictions and COVID-19 threats on mental health.

METHODS

We conducted a two-wave study with a representative sample of the Polish population, investigating the effect of participating in Polish pro-choice demonstrations on depressive and anxiety symptoms.

RESULTS

Participating in protests attenuated the negative effects of COVID-19 threat and anti-abortion restrictions on mental health. Moreover, we found that the feeling of solidarity with other demonstrators and sense of agency derived from such demonstrations led to lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The results of the study indicate that participating in meaningful and value-oriented collective action may serve as a buffer against the detrimental effects of social and health threats.

Development and Validation of the Vicarious Racism in Healthcare Workers Scale

Vicarious racism occurs when hearing about or observing people of the same racial and/or ethnic group experience racism. Healthcare workers may face unique experiences of vicarious racism through witnessing or hearing about racism that their patients and colleagues face. However, there are no validated measures of vicarious racism for the healthcare worker population. In this study, we developed and conducted an initial evaluation of the Vicarious Racism in Healthcare Workers Scale. We developed the 12-item scale based on a qualitative study exploring the experiences of racism among healthcare workers and existing literature on the topic. We administered the scale to a cohort of 259 healthcare workers identifying as a racialized minority to evaluate its factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity. Factor analysis yielded two factors: racism in social networks and racism in society at-large. This two-factor solution had good model fit (standardized root mean square residual = 0.061). The internal consistencies of the overall scale, social networks subscale, and society subscale were excellent (α = 0.93, 0.92, and 0.89, respectively). We found evidence in support of convergent validity; scale scores were higher among Black healthcare workers compared with non-Black healthcare workers and those with greater social support needs. Scale scores were positively correlated with directly experienced racism and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. The scale demonstrated discriminant validity; scale scores did not differ based on gender or job. The Vicarious Racism in Healthcare Workers Scale demonstrated favorable psychometric properties and may be used to assess vicarious racism in this population.

Reduced loneliness mediates the effects of multiple group identifications on well-being

Membership of multiple groups and identification with those groups have been found to be positively related to individuals' health and well-being. The present research sought to replicate this finding in two large, representative samples. Moreover, we sought to extend previous work by shedding light on the mechanisms mediating the effects of multiple group membership on positive health outcomes. Specifically, we proposed that the links between multiple group membership and positive health outcomes are mediated by reduced feelings of loneliness. In Study 1, a two-wave survey of a German population, participants (N = 989) were asked about their identification with family, friends, neighbourhood, their country and humanity and 4 weeks later about feelings of loneliness, physical health and stress. As hypothesized, multiple identifications predicted lower stress. They were also associated with a marginal reduction in physical symptoms of poor health. Both relationships were mediated by the absence of loneliness. In Study 2, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of German participants (N = 1635), which also included a sixth target of identification (Europe). Results replicated findings from Study 1 and also found similar relations associated with smaller (family, friends and neighbourhood) versus larger (country, Europe and Humanity) foci of identification.

The mediating role of social connectedness and hope in the relationship between group membership continuity and mental health problems in vulnerable young people

BACKGROUND

There is growing evidence of a beneficial effect of social group processes on well-being and mental health.

AIMS

To investigate the role of group membership continuity in reducing mental ill-health among young people who were already vulnerable pre-pandemic, and to understand the social and psychological mechanisms of the benefits of group memberships for vulnerable young people.

METHOD

This study takes a cross-sectional design, using survey data from a sample of 105 young people aged 16-35 years, collected approximately 1 year after the global COVID-19 outbreak (January to July 2021). Correlational and path analyses were used to test the associations between group membership continuity and mental health problems (depression, anxiety, psychotic-like experiences) and the mediation of these associations by hope and social connectedness (in-person and online). To correct for multiple testing, the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure was implemented for all analyses. Indirect effects were assessed with coverage of 99% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Multiple prior group memberships were associated with preservation of group memberships during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person social connectedness, online social connectedness and hope mediated the relationship between group membership continuity and mental health problem symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that clinical and public health practice should support vulnerable young people to foster and maintain their social group memberships, hopefulness and perceived sense of social connectedness as means of helping to prevent exacerbation of symptoms and promote recovery of mental health problems, particularly during significant life events.

The role of social support and social identification on challenge and threat cognitive appraisals, perceived stress, and life satisfaction in workplace employees

There is an emergent literature highlighting the positive role of social support and social identification in buffering against the deleterious effects of psychological stressors. Yet, we have limited understanding of how exactly these social factors fit within contemporary stress and coping theory. To advance and gain a greater understanding of these social factors, we explore the associations of social support and social identification on individuals' challenge and threat cognitive appraisals and how this then relates to perceived stress, life satisfaction, turnover intentions, and job performance. A total of 412 workplace employees from private and public sector occupations completed state measures around a recent most stressful experience at work. Results revealed atemporal associations between cognitive resource appraisals with both social support and social identification. Specifically, greater identification with colleagues and lower threat were related to less perceived stress, while having greater social identification (with colleagues and organisation), social support, and lower threat, were related to greater life satisfaction. Greater perceived stress, and lower social identification and life satisfaction, were also related to greater turnover intentions. While greater identification with the organisation and life satisfaction, along with lower perceived stress were related to greater job performance. Taken together, this research provides evidence that social support and social identification play a positive role when trying to promote more adaptive responses to stressful situations.

Therapists who foster social identification build stronger therapeutic working alliance and have better client outcomes

BACKGROUND

For decades we have known that therapeutic working alliance is a key contributor to client engagement and positive outcomes in therapy. However, we have made little progress in narrowing down its determinants, which is critical in supporting trainees to optimize such alliance. We make a case for the value of incorporating social psychological frameworks into models of alliance and explore the role of social identity processes in the development of therapeutic alliance.

METHOD

Across two studies, over 500 psychotherapy clients completed validated measures of alliance, social identification with their therapist, positive therapy outcomes, and a range of client and therapist characteristics.

FINDINGS

Social identification strongly predicted alliance in both samples, whereas client and therapist characteristics showed few such associations. Alliance mediated the relationship between social identification and positive therapy outcomes. In addition, we found evidence that (a) personal control is a key psychological resource in therapy that arises from social identification, and (b) therapists who engage in identity leadership (i.e., who represent and build a social identity that they share with clients) are more likely to foster social identification and its downstream benefits.

INTERPRETATION

These data show that social identity processes are key to the emergence of working alliance. We conclude with a discussion of how recent social identity and identity leadership interventions might be adapted to train therapists in relevant identity-building skills.

Measuring "we-ness" in couple relationships: A social identity approach

Research on couple relationships has increasingly focused on the concept of "we-ness", the subjective closeness of the couple bond, as crucial to predicting relationship outcomes including satisfaction and dissolution. However, diverging perspectives on the definition, terminology, and measurement of this concept persist. We drew upon social identity theorizing to clarify the nature of we-ness and investigate its predictive utility. Participants were 375 members of the general community in long-term intimate relationships. The sample were aged 18-74 (M = 37.22; SD = 12.00) and 69% were women. Participants completed seven measures of we-ness drawn from both the couple literature and the social identity literature. We used exploratory factor analyses to establish the latent structure of we-ness, and regression analyses to examine the utility of each we-ness factor in predicting relationship satisfaction and likelihood of dissolution. A four-factor solution was extracted and the factors were labeled couple identity, partner liking, relationship orientation, and partner similarity. Each of the four factors explained unique variance in relationship quality, with couple identity being most strongly associated with positive outcomes. We conclude that couple research can fruitfully draw upon social identity theorizing in conceptualizing we-ness. This has implications both for more effectively measuring key concepts and for more precisely targeting interventions in couple therapy.

PROTOCOL: Group-based interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of trauma type

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. The primary objective is to assess the effects of group-based treatments on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology in people diagnosed with PTSD (by a clinician or screening instrument) or referred to a PTSD treatment group for their symptoms by a medical professional. We will also examine a range of moderators that may affect the efficacy of group-based treatments, including the nature of the trauma (interpersonal, stigmatized) and the group fit (in terms of gender and shared vs. unshared trauma). Further, we will also explore what, if any, group-based and social identity factors are recorded and how they relate to PTSD outcomes.

Social network typologies moderate the association of loneliness with depressive symptomatology in middle-aged and older adults

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.

Network and Proximity Effects on LGBTQ Youth's Psychological Outcomes during a Camp Intervention

Research has found a tendency for youth's psychological states to influence their friendship development, and vice versa. Whether this occurs among LGBTQ youth in the context of identity-affirming intervention programming has not been established. The current study provides a longitudinal assessment of self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and anxiety in a network of 238 youth ages 12 to 18 participating in a summer camp for young LGBTQ people. Results showed youth experienced significant increases in self-esteem and decreases in depressive symptoms and anxiety at camp. Peer proximity based on cabin assignment influenced youth's depressive symptoms over time. The network processes of peer selection and influence did not significantly affect psychological outcomes. Our findings highlight the impact of affirming programming on the self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and anxiety of LGBTQ youth and the influence of intervention-based proximity on youth's depressive symptoms over time.

Intragroup contact with other mothers living in the same neighborhood benefits mothers' life satisfaction: The mediating role of group identification and social support

Becoming a mother is often accompanied by a loss of social connections, which can reduce the availability of social support. This can increase maternal stress with negative health outcomes. Therefore, we examined how mothers' social contact with other mothers living in the same neighborhood can form a compensative source of social support and wellbeing. Data was collected from mothers (N = 443) of a child under school age while visiting the public maternity and child health clinics located in two neighborhoods in Helsinki, Finland. We found that mothers' frequent and positive contact with other local mothers was positively related with their life satisfaction through identification-based social support. Contact also had a specific indirect effect on life satisfaction through social support. Frequent positive contact with other local mothers can serve to scaffold the emergence of social identification, which in turn unlocks further social support with positive health effects.

The group mechanism in treatment: group identification and cohesion contributes to reducing chronic lower back pain by increasing personal control

PURPOSE

There is increasing recognition of the contribution that group processes, particularly identification and cohesion, make to outcomes of group delivered health treatments. This study examined the role that these particular group processes play in the treatment of lower back pain, and a theorised mechanism of personal control through which group treatment might enhance outcomes.

METHODS

Participants (N = 85) elected to either receive NeuroHAB^®, a defined functional movement therapy of 8 weeks duration, or continue with treatment-as-usual (TAU). Pain intensity and disability were assessed at baseline (T1) and post-intervention or 8 weeks later (T2), as well as at a 1-month follow-up (T3). Only the NeuroHAB^® participants additionally completed weekly questionnaires that measured treatment group identification, cohesion, and personal control.

RESULTS

NeuroHAB^® was significantly more effective than TAU in reducing pain intensity and disability at T2 and T3. Furthermore, among NeuroHAB^® recipients, stronger treatment group identification and cohesion early in the program predicted better pain outcomes over time, and this relationship was fully mediated by perceptions of personal control.

CONCLUSION

These data provide further support for the role of group identification and cohesion as a contributing mechanism of change in group-based treatments and extend this to the domain of pain management.Implications for RehabilitationA focus on defined functional movement therapy, as offered by the NeuroHAB^® group program, was found to improve pain outcomes in patients with lower back pain.A key ingredient in the NeuroHAB^® rehabilitation program was its group delivery.Group delivery supported treatment group identification and cohesion which, through enhancing the perception of personal control, reduced pain intensity and disability.

A psychosocial pathway to paranoia: The interplay between social connectedness and self-esteem

The quantity and quality of social contacts have been related to self-esteem, and both social relationships and self-esteem have been implicated in the pathways to paranoia. However, how social relationships interplay with self-esteem to trigger paranoia is not well understood. This study aims to investigate whether different measures of social connectedness (social support, loneliness, and desired friendship), as well as the frequency of social contact, impact paranoia and other positive and negative psychotic-like experiences (PLE) through the indirect effect of self-esteem. Data from a sample of 169 nonclinically ascertained participants oversampled for schizotypy scores were analyzed using two different approaches: retrospective trait-like and ecological momentary measures of social connectedness. Results showed that self-esteem mediates the pathways from poor social support and social longing, but not from loneliness, to paranoia and other cognitive PLE. In contrast, pathways from social connectedness to perceptual PLE and negative PLE were not mediated by self-esteem. Results were consistent across trait-like and momentary measures. Finally, self-esteem was not implicated in the pathways from the frequency of social contact and paranoia or other forms of PLE. These results provide a comprehensive picture of how social connectedness drives specific symptoms of psychosis through self-esteem. Findings underscore the need to explore separately the quality and quantity of social relationships and suggest that the subjective experience of meaningful social bonds is key social determinants of mental health. Therefore, addressing inadequacies of social connectedness could substantially improve symptomatic and functional outcomes of psychosis.

Does "who I am" influence "how I feel"? Cultural identity and mental health among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents

Securing a clear sense of identity is a critical issue in adolescence, yet the role that cultural identity plays in the well-being of youths remains unclear. This study aims to examine the relationship between cultural identity and mental health among three groups of adolescents in Hong Kong with different residential backgrounds. Data came from a cross-sectional survey with 2180 4th-9th grade students in Hong Kong. Cultural identity was assessed by whether the youths identify themselves as local Hong Kong people, mainland Chinese, both Hong Kong and mainland Chinese, or confused about which group to belong to. Mental health was assessed by self-esteem, mental well-being, happiness, social anxiety, and depression. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between cultural identity and mental health, adjusting for sociodemographic variables. The regression results suggested adolescents with confused cultural identity scored lower in all positive indicators of mental health compared with those with a clear cultural identification. No significant association was found between cultural identity and social anxiety/depression. Uncertainty in cultural identification may be detrimental for the mental health of adolescents living in a multicultural society. Interventions may consider cultivating clear cultural identities among adolescents to promote their mental health.

Interdependence, bonding and support are associated with improved mental wellbeing following an outdoor team challenge

Social relationships and mental health are functionally integrated throughout the lifespan. Although recent laboratory-based research has begun to reveal psychological pathways linking social interaction, interdependence, bonding and wellbeing, more evidence is needed to integrate and understand the potential significance of these accounts for real-world events and interventions. In a questionnaire-based, repeated measures design, we measured the wellbeing of 13- to 19-year-old participants (n = 226) in the Ten Tors Challenge (United Kingdom) 7-10 days before (T1) and after (T4) the event. Immediately before (T2) and after (T3) the event, we administered measures of team bonding, perceived and experienced interdependence, perceived and received support, physical pain and fatigue, and performance satisfaction. There was a significant increase in participants' wellbeing (pre-to-post event). Post-event social bonding and performance satisfaction positively predicted the wellbeing increase. Bonding was, in turn, positively predicted by experienced interdependence, received support, pain and fatigue, and the sense of having done better as a team than expected. Results provide novel field-based evidence on the associations between meaningful bonds of mutual reliance in a challenging team event and adolescent wellbeing. Team challenge events potentially offer effective contexts for forging social interactions, interdependencies, and bonds that can support mental and physical health.

Holistic community-based group parenting programs for mothers with maternal mental health issues help address a growing public health need for a diversity of vulnerable mothers, children and families: Findings from an action research study

Background

Maternal mental illness is a major growing global concern which can affect parenting with serious negative implications for offspring. Group-based parenting programs for mothers which both enhance the parent-child relationship and address mental health symptoms in a supportive social setting may optimise better outcomes for mothers and children. The Acorn program in South Australia draws on attachment theory to integrate dance play, reflective diary keeping and therapeutic letters in a holistic program for a diversity of vulnerable mothers and children aged 1-36 months. The program seeks to nurture and enhance parental wellbeing and the quality of the parent-child relationship for mothers experiencing identified mental health illnesses that impinge upon their parenting. This study presents the evaluation of the program and its effectiveness.

Methods

Action research approach for continuous monitoring and program improvement engaging Acorn program staff in evaluation data collection and interpretation of pre and post self-completion measures and standardized observations. Additional data was collected through a telephone interview of attending mothers 6-8 months after program completion to address sustainable impacts on parenting and wellbeing.

Results

The program engaged 353 diverse vulnerable mothers with their children. Many had profound overlapping mental health issues including borderline personality disorder (BPD) and depression. The quality of the parent-child interaction, parental confidence, competence and enjoyment were enhanced; mothers' wellbeing, ability to cope and lasting social supports were augmented. This occurred for a number of "most vulnerable" subgroups including single mothers, mothers with BPD, mothers from non-English speaking households and those with lower levels of education or household income. Mothers reported sustained improvements in their wellbeing, parenting, social and family lives, and feeling closer to their child as a result of participating in the program.

Conclusions

Given the high prevalence of maternal mental health issues and substantial potential negative consequences for mothers and offspring, the Acorn parenting program offers an effective means of addressing this pressing public health issue potentially helping large numbers of vulnerable mothers and their children. This has additional gravitas in the shadow of COVID-19 due to expanded numbers of those experiencing greater parental stress, isolation and mental illness.

Acutely enhancing affective state and social connection following an online dance intervention during the COVID-19 social isolation crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many throughout the world to isolate themselves from their respective communities to stop the spread of disease. Although this form of distancing can prevent the contraction of a virus, it results in social isolation and physical inactivity. Consequently, our communities have become heavily reliant on digital solutions to foster social connection and increase physical activity when forced to isolate. Dance is a multidimensional form of physical activity that includes sensory, motor, cognitive, rhythmic, creative, and social elements. Long-term, interventional studies in dance have shown positive effects on both mental and social health; however, little has been done to examine the acute effects and no studies to date have explored the relationship between the affective state and social outcomes of dance. We examined the hypothesis that online dance is associated with improvements in affective state and social connection during a time of social isolation, namely, the COVID-19 crisis. Healthy adults (age ≥ 18; n = 47) engaged in a single session of 60 min of self-selected online dance, completing a series of validated self-reported questionnaires before and after class. We found that online dance was associated with improvements in affective state as measured by increased positive affect and self-esteem and decreased negative affect and depressive symptoms. Additionally, online dance was associated with improvements in social and community connectedness. Further, we found that those who experienced the largest increases in self-esteem and decreases in negative affect demonstrated the largest gains in social connectivity. Although in-person dance classes may be optimal for formalized dance training, online dance instruction offers an accessible platform that can provide mental and social health benefits during the COVID-19 social isolation crisis. We conclude that through online dance, individuals can experience a connection between the body, mind, and community.

Sport-related concussion disclosure in women's rugby-A social identity approach

Introduction

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a risk of collision sports such as women's rugby. To support appropriate SRC diagnosis and management, an understanding of the factors that encourage SRC disclosure is necessary. To date, research has focused on ascertaining individual player knowledge and attitudes towards SRC disclosure.

Methods

We chose to investigate the potential influence of group identification effects by examining the role of social identity on SRC disclosure in elite women's rugby. Seventeen elite players from the United Kingdom and Ireland were interviewed and their transcripts thematically analysed.

Results

The data highlighted that the players shared a very strong social identity as women in rugby and were acutely aware that their experiences were different to their male counterparts. The shared social identity had both positive and negative implications for SRC disclosure. The players interviewed did not feel comfortable disclosing their symptoms to their coach and often felt that medical staff either did not listen to them or were unavailable to them. Mediators such as communication, trust in medical teams, perceived pressure, positive injury management experience, and player role models were identified.

Discussion

This research could be utilised to inform sport psychology interventions to enhance SRC disclosure in elite women's rugby.

Social Group Identification as a Predictor of Pretreatment Suicidal Ideation and Intent in those Receiving cCBT: Evidence from a Scottish Primary Care Sample

Suicidal ideation and intent are strongly linked with suicidal attempts and completions; however, no study to date has explored the predictors of ideation and intent within a sample receiving computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (cCBT) as an intervention for mild to moderate depression. The current study investigates the impact of social group identification and socioeconomic deprivation, together with a number of important clinical and demographic factors, on suicidal ideation and intent within a Scottish primary care sample. Participants (N = 1062) were recruited from referrals to a cCBT program, "Beating the Blues" (BtB), over a 33-month period. Participants completed three versions of the group identifications scale (GIS), one for each of three groups: family, community, and a social group of choice. Single-item questions on suicidal ideation and intent were delivered through the BtB program, and demographic and clinical information were collected on commencing BtB. More severe psychological distress, fewer group identifications, younger age, and being male, all significantly predicted the presence of suicidal ideations, however only greater severity of psychological distress was associated with more serious suicidal intent. These results provide valuable insight into factors associated with suicidal ideation and intent within a clinical population from a psychosocial, psychopharmacological, and demographic perspective.

The role of community health workers in influencing social connectedness using the household model: a qualitative case study from Malawi

BACKGROUND

Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in facilitating social connectedness, building trust, decrease stigma, and link communities to essential healthcare and social support services. More studies are needed to understand the factors facilitating these interactions among CHWs, clients, and community members.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the CHW role and relationships between CHWs, communities, and health facilities that promote trust, positive relationships, and social connectedness.

METHODS

In 2016, the CHW program in Neno District, Malawi, was transitioned to a household-level assignment of CHWs to provide screening, linkage to care, and psychosocial and chronic disease support from a disease-based program. We employed an exploratory qualitative study with thematic analysis linked to Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions through focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) to understand the impact of the household assignment. We purposively sampled community stakeholders, CHWs, health service providers, and clients (total N = 180) from October 2018 through March 2020. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, translated, coded, and analyzed.

RESULTS

Participants reported decreased stigma and discrimination with increased trust and confidence in CHWs with household-level assignment. Positive relationships between CHWs in their households, community members, and health facility staff fostered health knowledge, individual agency, and personal resources for the community members to access health services. Community members' personal resources of increased health knowledge, trust, gratitude, and social support improved social connectedness and subjective wellbeing. Areas to improve positive relationships include CHWs maintaining confidentiality and caring for pregnant women.

CONCLUSION

Our study findings demonstrate that by building solid relationships as a community chosen, well informed, and household-level workforce, CHWs can develop positive relationships with communities and the health-care facility staff through building knowledge, trust, gratitude, and hope. Further work is needed in maintaining CHW confidentiality and new ways to approach culturally sensitive health areas.

Mental health and intentions to quit among nurses in Iran during COVID-19 Pandemic: A social identity approach

The positive effects of social identification on mental health are well documented in the literature. However, most of this research has been conducted among small groups in WEIRD (Western Educated Industrialized Rich and Democratic Henrich, Heine, & Norenzayan, 2010, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 33, 61) settings. Understanding how social identity as a psychological source can improve resilience and welfare among frontline healthcare workers in non-WEIRD contexts can help to alleviate the negative impact of large-scale epidemics overall, especially in resource-poor settings and contribute towards improved welfare of key healthcare workers. The present research investigates whether identifying as a nurse could influence mental health and intentions to quit directly and indirectly via positive and negative emotions among a unique sample of Iranian nurses (N = 462) during a risky period, the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple regression results showed that identifying as a nurse was negatively associated with negative emotions which in turn were positively related to depressive symptoms. In a similar vein, identifying as a nurse was positively associated with positive emotions which, in turn, were negatively related to intentions to quit. Results also confirmed that risk perceptions related to COVID-19 positively moderated the effect of social identification on negative emotions only. That is, identification as a nurse was associated with reduced negative emotions only when perceived risk was low. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.

Acceptability and Feasibility of an Intervention to Enhance Social Group Belonging: Evidence From Three Trials of Groups 4 Health

Groups 4 Health (G4H) is a group psychotherapy program that targets social group disconnection. An emerging evidence base supports its efficacy in reducing loneliness, depression, and social anxiety. However, to date there has been no formal analysis of its acceptability to clients and therapists, nor an investigation of its feasibility for wider implementation. This input from end users is crucial to ensure the program's wider suitability and to contribute to its improvement. This study drew data from three clinical trials, including 266 G4H clients and 68 G4H therapists. From the Phase III trial only, additional data were available from 90 clients in a dose-controlled cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) comparison group, and focus groups/interviews with 6 therapists and 13 clients. Client satisfaction was high, with all average ratings >7/10, significantly exceeding the CBT comparison group. Therapist satisfaction with each module was >5/7. Retention was >80%. Homework completion was high, with <10% of clients saying that they had not attempted the homework. Therapists and clients both emphasized the benefits arising from G4H, and the contribution of the group context itself as a vehicle to achieve positive outcomes.

Examining the mediator and moderator of the link between Migration-Related stress and depression amongst Chinese migrant children

Migration-related stress is detrimental to children's mental health, yet little is known about the potential mechanisms behind this association. This study examines the mediating role of inflow city identity in the association between migration-related stress and depression and the moderating role of social participation amongst Chinese migrant children. A sample of 484 migrant children aged 8-17 years is randomly recruited through a cross-sectional survey in Kunming, China. Inflow city identity partially mediates the association between migration-related stress and migrant children's depression. Moreover, social participation moderates the above relationship. The direct and indirect effects are significant for migrant children with low social participation but insignificant for migrant children with high social participation. This study deepens the theoretical understanding of the underlying mechanism between migration stress and psychological distress and provides practical implications for preventing mental disorders in Chinese migrant children.

Exploring the longitudinal clustering of lifestyle behaviors, social determinants of health, and depression

Lifestyle behaviors such as exercise, sleep, smoking, diet, and social interaction are associated with depression. This study aimed to model the complex relationships between lifestyle behaviors and depression and among the lifestyle behaviors. Data from three waves of the Midlife in the United States study were used, involving 6898 adults. Network models revealed associations between the lifestyle behaviors and depression, with smoker status being strongly associated with depression. Depression, smoker status, age, time, and exercise were some of the most central components of the networks. Future lifestyle intervention research might prioritize specific behaviors based on these associations and centrality indices.

Loneliness and Alcohol-Related Problems among College Students Who Report Binge Drinking Behavior: The Moderating Role of Food and Alcohol Disturbance

Loneliness and alcohol misuse are common among college students and pose a threat to public health. To better understand the longitudinal association between these public health concerns we examined food and alcohol disturbance (FAD; i.e., restricting one's caloric intake prior to drinking) as a moderator in the association between loneliness and alcohol-related problems. Participants were 456 college students from a mid-sized university who engaged in past 30-day binge drinking. The majority of participants identified as being White (67.1%), female (78.1%), and reported a mean age of 19.61 (SD = 1.54) years. Participants completed two surveys (3 weeks apart) over the course of an academic semester. Analyses revealed a significant interaction between loneliness and FAD, such that loneliness (T1) significantly and positively predicted alcohol-related problems (T2), but only among individuals who engaged in relatively higher levels of FAD (T1). FAD may be an appropriate target for interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related problems among college students experiencing loneliness.

Conditional Parochial Vicarious Ostracism: Gender Collective Narcissism Predicts Distress at the Exclusion of the Gender Ingroup in Women and Men

Three experiments (two pre-registered) tested whether gender collective narcissism (i.e., a belief that one’s gender ingroup’s exceptionality is not sufficiently recognized by others) predicts parochial vicarious ostracism (i.e., feeling ostracized and distressed while recognizing the gender ingroup’s exclusion, but not when recognizing the exclusion of the gender outgroup). In all studies (overall N = 1480), gender collective narcissism was positively associated with distress among women who witnessed the exclusion of women, but not among men who witnessed the exclusion of women. In Study 3, gender collective narcissism was positively associated with distress among men who witnessed the exclusion of men, but not among women who witnessed the exclusion of men. These findings help explain why men do not universally feel distressed by the discrimination of women and why some women may mobilize to challenge gender discrimination.

A qualitative study of the impact of peer support on women's mental health treatment experiences during the perinatal period

Background

Perinatal mental health problems are prevalent, affecting up to 20% of women However, only 17–25% receive formal support during the perinatal period. In this qualitative study, we sought to examine women’s experiences with peer support for mental health problems during the perinatal period.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with twenty-five mothers from the UK who had utilised peer support for a perinatal mental health problem. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Seven major themes were identified in women’s help seeking process and experience of peer support. These included; perinatal specific precipitating factors that contributed to their mental health problems, barriers in the form of unhelpful professional responses, feelings of isolation, acceptance of the problem and need to actively re-seek support, finding support either through luck or peer assistance.

Conclusion

Peer support showed promise as an effective means to reduce perinatal mental health difficulties; either as a form of formal support or as an adjunct to formal support. The results highlight ways to improve perinatal women’s access to mental health support through peer-based mechanisms.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04959-7.

Double jeopardy: How lower levels of support during COVID-19 exacerbated the relationship between loneliness and distress

While the relationship between loneliness and psychological distress is well documented, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are less clear. One factor known to be related to loneliness as well as psychological distress, is social support, with some studies suggesting that support-both received and provided-can serve as a mechanism to reduce the distress associated with loneliness. In this paper we examine the mediating role of both aspects of support in the relationship between loneliness and psychological distress in the COVID-19 context. We used a multi-country dataset collected at two timepoints during the pandemic; the first during the early stages (N = 6,842, 11 countries) and the second collected for a subset of countries (N = 1,299, 3 countries) 3 months later. Across all eleven countries, results revealed significant positive associations between loneliness and distress. Furthermore, using longitudinal data, we investigated the directionality of this relationship and found that increased loneliness over time was associated with increased psychological distress. The data also showed that both feeling unsupported and feeling unable to provide support to others mediated this relationship. These findings point to the need to facilitate people's ability to draw effective social support and help others-particularly at times when social connectedness is threatened-as a way of alleviating the psychological distress that commonly presents with loneliness.

The Identification With All Humanity (IWAH) scale: its psychometric properties and associations with help-seeking during COVID-19

The Identification With All Humanity (IWAH) scale was designed to measure the extent to which an individual identifies oneself with all human beings. The current research aimed to conduct the validation of IWAH in a Chinese population and its convergent validity, as well as test the implications of IWAH in associations with help-seeking behaviour during COVID-19. A serial of three studies was conducted from September 1st 2020 to the end of October 2020. The series of studies included Study 1- Exploring the dimensions of the IWAH scale with a sample of 2,881 participants, Study 2- Confirmatory Factor Analysis for the Chinese IWAH dimensions with a separate sample of 6,667 participants, and Study 3- Role of the IWAH in the COVID-19 pandemic with a sample of 9,046 participants. Study 1 found the Chinese version of the IWAH scale to be a two-dimensional construct, with factor 1 - Bond with Humanity and factor 2 - Human Kinship. Study 2 confirmed the two-factor construct as found in Study 1. It also showed positive relations between IWAH and moral judgement, collectivism, nature connectedness, and negative relations with callousness, and having anxiety and depressive symptoms. Study 3 found that IWAH was negatively related to fear of COVID-19 and positively related to the likeliness of help-seeking. This is the first research to test the factorial structure of the IWAH scale in a Chinese population, with the adaptation showing good psychometric properties. The implication of IWAH on fear of COVID-19 and help-seeking provided further understanding of the possible practical value of IWAH during times of global stressful life events. Furthermore, study 3 is the first to explore how IWAH relates to anxiety, depression, and callousness.

National identification, a social cure for COVID-19? Evidence from 67 countries

BACKGROUND

Social distancing and mass quarantines were implemented worldwide in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research has shown that such measures bear negative consequences for population mental health and well-being. Conversely, a growing body of evidence suggests that feeling positively identified with a group is associated with physical and mental health benefits.

AIMS

This study tested whether national identification could promote wellbeing and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

We used survey data conducted among 67 countries (N = 46,450).

RESULTS

Mixed-model analyses revealed that national identity was associated with wellbeing - despite adjustment on social belonging, COVID-19 perceived risk, exposure and ideology. This effect did not extend to physical health.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the mere feeling of belonging to a national group may have mental health benefits. We discuss the implications of our findings within the social cure framework and their relevance for population mental health under COVID-19.

Short report: social identification, quality of professional life and emotional maladjustment in healthcare providers during the first wave of the COVID-19 emergency

This research analyzed the effect of professional, organizational and care-unit identifications on both healthcare professionals' quality of professional life and mental health. This research was done in a local hospital in a region of northern Italy which was one of the first regions to be impacted by the first wave of the pandemic. Using a cross-sectional research, a web-based questionnaire was sent to the healthcare professionals. Professional quality of life, professional identifications as well as emotional maladjustment in terms of stress, anxiety and depression were measured. Results indicated that professional and care unit identification were positively linked to increased compassion satisfaction and reduced burnout. Professional identification was negatively associated with secondary traumatic stress as well, while care unit identification was positively associated with vicarious trauma. The negative dimension of the professional quality of life had positive relations with emotional maladjustment. Professional and care unit identifications appeared to have an indirect effect via professional quality of life on maladjustment.

Identification with humanity and health-related behaviors during COVID-19

This research takes a maximally inclusive social identity approach to COVID-19 and examines whether the “bond” and “concern” factors of identification with humanity: (1) explain additional variance in health-related behaviors—above and beyond relevant covariates; (2) are uniquely associated with health-related behaviors; and (3) were more strongly associated with health-related behaviors when COVID-19 cases were high. Results ( N = 324) suggest the bond and concern factors explained significantly more variance in social distancing, social influencing, overbuying, and marginally more variance in mask wearing. Bond with all humanity uniquely predicted more mask wearing, more social influencing, less social distancing, and more overbuying, and concern for all humanity uniquely predicted more social distancing and less overbuying. However, COVID-19 cases did not consistently moderate associations with health-related behaviors. Overall, identification with humanity has an important role in—and the bond and concern factors have distinct associations with—health-related behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Let's get physical" - or social: The role of physical activity versus social group memberships in predicting depression and anxiety over time

BACKGROUND

Physical activity is often promoted as a way to prevent and combat anxiety and depression in adolescents. However, very little research has sought to establish whether the benefits of exercise arise from the excercise itself or from the social context in which it takes place. We explore the hypothesis that it is not physical activity on its own, but rather adolescents' engagement in group life (as part of a sports group or otherwise), that accounts for positive mental health effects associated with physical activity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a longitudinal study that tracked 558 high-school boys and found that anxiety and depression over time was not predicted by (a) T1 physical fitness as determined by 7 speed and agility tests, or (b) engaging in multiple sports as co-curricular activies at T1. In contrast, multiple group memberships - irrespective of the activity - predicted reduced depression and anxiety over time, particularly when these were groups that adolescents identified with and experienced as compatible with each other.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations relate to (a) physical fitness only being measured at T1, (b) the absence of a measure of frequency and duration of physical activity, and (c) the homogeneity of the sample.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that group memberships and the social identities that adolescents derive from these groups (including, but not restricted to, those involving sport) function as a psychological resource to reduce anxiety and depression over time.