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The association between social relationships and depression: a systematic review
Ziggi Ivan Santini1, Ai Koyanagi1, Stefanos Tyrovolas1
1Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu/CIBERSAM, Dr Antoni Pujades, 42, 08830, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|January 17, 2015
Summary
Strong social support and extensive social networks appear to protect against depression. This review highlights the importance of these social factors for mental well-being in the general population.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Depression is a widespread mental health issue with significant global impact.
- Previous research on social relationships and depression has yielded inconsistent findings.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing evidence on the relationship between social relationships and depression in the general population.
- To synthesize findings on social support, social networks, and social connectedness in relation to depression.
- To identify consistent patterns and gaps in the research literature.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsycNet) in May 2014.
- Studies examining the association between social support, social networks, or social connectedness and depression were included.
- Fifty-one relevant studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.
Main Results:
- Perceived emotional support and instrumental support demonstrated significant protective effects against depression.
- Larger and more diverse social networks were consistently associated with a lower risk of depression.
- Limited evidence was found regarding the impact of social connectedness and negative social interactions on depression.
Conclusions:
- The review identified strong evidence for the protective role of social support and social networks against depression.
- Future research should focus on objective measures, standardized relationship assessments, and prospective designs to establish causality.
- Social connectedness and negative interactions warrant further investigation in population-based depression studies.
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