Dimensionality of Mental Disorders
Broadly speaking, symptoms of mental disorders can be distinguished into two parts: affective symptoms and somatic symptoms. Although sociologists often treat mental disorders as having a single dimension, they might benefit from appreciating the dimensionalities of mental disorders for at least two reasons. First, since it is possible that social interactions matters more to mood than to physical health, considering the two dimensions characteristic of mental disorders highlights the importance of social factors by addressing affective and physical symptoms respectively. Second, because somatic symptoms are critical initiators for potential patients to seek medical helps, and the indicator of incomplete remission …show more content…
The two facets, presence and content, are the main focuses of social relationships research (Turner and Turner 2013). The presence of relationship refers to the impacts result from the existence of the social ties, whereas the content of relationship is the quality and the perceived or the actual supports the egos obtain from the ties. Studies have shown that both the existences of and the quality of relationships are influential on health and mental health. House et al. (1988) maintains that the primary benefits from social relationships are the social integration elements within them. Their argument is similar to what Durkheim argued earlier in Suicide. The bonded links, without concerning the content or the quality of the links, are crucial to the suicidal actions. The simple existence of social relationships can buffer or moderate the harmful effects of adverse life events or stresses. This links to the structural elements of social supports proposed by Lin, Ye, and Ensel (1999). Three layers constitute an ego’s social relationship. From the outer most layer is the belongingness (community), the middle layer is the bonding ties (networks, friends), and the inner layer is the binding ties (intimate relationships, spouses). The innermost bind has the strongest reducing effects in predicting depression (Son et al. 2008). Besides the structure, Lin, Ye, and Ensel also argue that …show more content…
H3: Strained family relationships increase common mental disorders.
Since the supportive family relationship and strained family relationship might capture the opposite directions of family relationship, the fourth hypothesis is:
H4: Supportive family relationships are negatively related to strained family relationships.
Network Relationships and Mental Disorders
Relationships with personal network members, such as neighbors, relatives, and friends are also associated with mental health. Lin et al. (1999) find that frequency of weekly contacts with network members reduces depressed mood significantly. In a comparison study between US and Taiwan, Son et al. (2008) also shows that the bonding relationship, which is measured by the number of people contacted daily or weekly, is negatively related to depression significantly in both countries. Hence, my fifth hypothesis is:
H5: Network relationships reduce common mental
Broadly speaking, symptoms of mental disorders can be distinguished into two parts: affective symptoms and somatic symptoms. Although sociologists often treat mental disorders as having a single dimension, they might benefit from appreciating the dimensionalities of mental disorders for at least two reasons. First, since it is possible that social interactions matters more to mood than to physical health, considering the two dimensions characteristic of mental disorders highlights the importance of social factors by addressing affective and physical symptoms respectively. Second, because somatic symptoms are critical initiators for potential patients to seek medical helps, and the indicator of incomplete remission …show more content…
The two facets, presence and content, are the main focuses of social relationships research (Turner and Turner 2013). The presence of relationship refers to the impacts result from the existence of the social ties, whereas the content of relationship is the quality and the perceived or the actual supports the egos obtain from the ties. Studies have shown that both the existences of and the quality of relationships are influential on health and mental health. House et al. (1988) maintains that the primary benefits from social relationships are the social integration elements within them. Their argument is similar to what Durkheim argued earlier in Suicide. The bonded links, without concerning the content or the quality of the links, are crucial to the suicidal actions. The simple existence of social relationships can buffer or moderate the harmful effects of adverse life events or stresses. This links to the structural elements of social supports proposed by Lin, Ye, and Ensel (1999). Three layers constitute an ego’s social relationship. From the outer most layer is the belongingness (community), the middle layer is the bonding ties (networks, friends), and the inner layer is the binding ties (intimate relationships, spouses). The innermost bind has the strongest reducing effects in predicting depression (Son et al. 2008). Besides the structure, Lin, Ye, and Ensel also argue that …show more content…
H3: Strained family relationships increase common mental disorders.
Since the supportive family relationship and strained family relationship might capture the opposite directions of family relationship, the fourth hypothesis is:
H4: Supportive family relationships are negatively related to strained family relationships.
Network Relationships and Mental Disorders
Relationships with personal network members, such as neighbors, relatives, and friends are also associated with mental health. Lin et al. (1999) find that frequency of weekly contacts with network members reduces depressed mood significantly. In a comparison study between US and Taiwan, Son et al. (2008) also shows that the bonding relationship, which is measured by the number of people contacted daily or weekly, is negatively related to depression significantly in both countries. Hence, my fifth hypothesis is:
H5: Network relationships reduce common mental