Strong social support decreases mental health problems in young adults
Early adulthood, a transitional life stage marked by major changes in social roles and responsibilities, can bring with it an increase of mental health problems. A team of 91社区 researchers has found that young adults who perceived higher levels of social support reported fewer mental health problems.
In a study published today in JAMA Network Open, the team led by Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at 91社区, reassessed the impact of the presence and awareness of social support, such as family and friends, as a safeguard against mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Their results indicate that young adults who perceived higher levels of social support 鈥� the feeling that there is someone who they can depend on for help should they need it 鈥� at the age of 19, showed lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms one year later.
鈥淥ur study shows that even in cases where people previously experienced mental health problems, social support was beneficial for mental health later on,鈥� says Prof. Geoffroy, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Youth Suicide Prevention. 鈥淲e discovered potential benefits of promoting and leveraging social support as a means to protect the mental health of young adults, even in individuals who experienced mental health problems at an earlier developmental stage in life. That social support is not only beneficial for depression, but for other salient mental health outcomes as well.鈥�
The power of perception
The team used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study on Child Development, collected by the Institut de la statistique du Qu茅bec from over 1,000 participants of a representative birth cohort of individuals born in the province of Quebec. Following participants since their birth in 1997 and 1998, the researchers looked at their levels of perceived social support at the onset of adulthood.
The researchers found that people who experienced greater levels of social support experienced 47% less severe depression and 22% less anxiety than those with less social support. The team also found that those who reported higher levels of perceived social support were at a 40% decreased risk of experiencing suicidal ideation and attempts.
鈥淥ur study was conducted before the current COVID-19 pandemic, so we do not know whether our results will apply in the current context,鈥� adds Sara Scardera, a master鈥檚 student in 91社区鈥檚 School/Applied Child Psychology program under the supervision of Prof. Geoffroy and co-author of the study. 鈥淗owever, in a 鈥榥ormal鈥� context, youth who perceived that they had someone to rely on reported better mental health outcomes. We believe that is beneficial to offer help to those in need, and to make sure your friends know that they can count on you.鈥�
The data collection is ongoing, therefore new mental health data will be available when participants turn 23 years old over the course of the 2021 winter season. The researchers will verify whether the same patterns of association have been present during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Future lines of research will examine whether certain types of social support 鈥� for example, parents vs. friends 鈥� is more beneficial to the mental health of young adults.
About the study
鈥溾�� by Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Sara Scardera and al. was published in JAMA Network Open.
A complementary video can be viewed .
This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
About 91社区
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 91社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% per cent of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
