Social hierarchies and effects on depression and aggression in adolescents

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that depression and aggression can result from loss of social status in animals and humans (Adler et al. , 2000; Edwards & Kravitz, 1997). The purpose of this research project was to understand better the effects of social rank on the mental health of adolescents, specifically by studying the associations between measures of rank such as subjective social status, sense of control, and perceived childhood income inequality, with depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and aggression in a clinical sample of predominantly Black adolescents from an urban area in the United States. The aims of this research project were: 1- To analyze the association between social rank and depressive symptoms and aggression in a clinical sample of adolescents; 2- To determine the mechanisms by which social rank affects mood and aggression in adolescents; and 3- To determine the impact of social rank on psychological well-being from a developmental perspective. The hypothesis is that adolescents with lower perceived social rank or sense of control will present more symptoms of depression, more suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and more aggression when adjusting for other variables. This research project consisted of a mixed methods research study (Palinkas et al. , 2011) with the purpose of acquiring a more comprehensive understanding of the topics, corroborating the results with different methods, and comparing multiple system levels. The study comprised 2 phases: Phase 1: Qualitative data collection was conducted with in-depth interviews with 23 adolescents following a phenomenological method of design and analysis. The interviews were completed until information saturation was reached. Phase 2: Quantitative data collection was conducted using a cross-sectional survey. One hundred and ninety-seven (n=197) adolescents completed a survey in order to complement the in-depth interviews. The design of the survey was based on the findings from phase 1. The qualitative data were analyzed by thematic analysis using the software ATLAS. The quantitative data analyses were conducted through descriptive analysis of the variables and logistic and linear regressions using the statistical package SPSS. Confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling were conducted with the program Mplus. The results of these series of studies showed positive associations between low perceived social status and depression and suicidal ideation, and positive associations between low sense of control and aggression in a sample of adolescents recruited in clinical urban settings, suggesting that perceived social rank and sense of control as experienced by adolescents can have effects on mental health at that early age. Additionally, as early as in adolescence, we observed individuals using coping skills to attempt to manage reactions related to their social rank. These research findings could have implications for individual and group therapy interventions, given that the interpretations that adolescents make of their social environment can be included in therapeutic work. These results could also have public health implications, as interventions at the population level could attenuate the effects of inequality or decrease inequalities, and prevent the internalization of inequalities in youth.

Date of Award	17 Jun 2021
Original language	English
Supervisor	Daniel Vega Moreno (Tutor)