Abstract
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 illhealth. 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: 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. These results remained even when age and gender were controlled for.
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 uni-directional. This reconceptualization has implications for mental health promotion strategies, as it highlights the importance of attempting to turn a potentially ‘vicious cycle’ of social dis-identification and mental ill-health into a ‘virtuous cycle’ of social identification and mental health.
Design: A longitudinal questionnaire design was used.
Methods: 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. These results remained even when age and gender were controlled for.
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 uni-directional. This reconceptualization has implications for mental health promotion strategies, as it highlights the importance of attempting to turn a potentially ‘vicious cycle’ of social dis-identification and mental ill-health into a ‘virtuous cycle’ of social identification and mental health.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 357-371 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | British Journal of Clinical Psychology |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 8 Jun 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2017 |
Keywords
- adolescents
- groups
- longitudinal
- mental health
- social determinants of health
- social identity
Access to Document
- Author Accepted Manuscript
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: 'On the reciprocal effects between multiple group identifications and mental health: A longitudinal study of Scottish adolescents', British Journal of Clinical Psychology, which has been published in final form at doi:10.1111/bjc.12143. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.