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Pathways to sympathies for violent protest and terrorism.
Kamaldeep Bhui1, Maria Joao Silva2, Raluca A Topciu2
1Kamaldeep Bhui, BSc, MBBS, MSc, MD, FRCPsych, Maria Joao Silva, MSc, Raluca A. Topciu, MD, MA, PhD, Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London; Edgar Jones, MA, PhD, DPhil, King's Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK k.s.bhui@qmul.ac.uk.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|September 10, 2016
Summary
Depression increases risk for sympathies toward violent protest and terrorism (SVPT). However, social connectedness, like adverse life events and political engagement, reduces SVPT risk.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Political Science
Background:
- Radicalization theories lack empirical population research for prevention.
- The role of psychiatric vulnerabilities in violent extremism is under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of depressive symptoms, adverse life events, and political engagement on sympathies for violent protest and terrorism (SVPT).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of a representative sample in two English cities.
- Weighted, multivariable logistic regression analyzed associations with SVPT.
- Cluster analysis defined SVPT outcomes.
Main Results:
- Depressive symptoms significantly increased SVPT risk (OR = 2.59).
- Adverse life events (e.g., death of a close friend) and political engagement (e.g., donating to charity) were associated with lower SVPT risk.
- Depressive symptoms minimally mediated the effects of life events and political engagement on SVPT.
Conclusions:
- Social connectedness, including life events and political engagement, is linked to reduced sympathies for violent extremism.
- Findings suggest that interventions should consider both psychiatric vulnerabilities and social factors.