The formation of secure and healthy friendships is a very important milestone in adolescence (Johnson, 2004). It is especially important to the mental health of adults, as friends are the main support system they have at this time (Kessler et al., 2003). Depression is the most common mental disorder in Canada, with 4.7% of the population 15 years and up matched criteria for major depression according to Statistic Canada’s 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey. While professional help is highly encouraged (Kessler et al., 2003), seeking the support of friends or partner is the common choice, especially those who are more on introverted spectrum (Jylha, Melartin, Rytsala, & Isometsa, 2009). The degree of closeness and health of the relationship
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A study by Spithoven et al. (2016) looked into how depression and loneliness were distinct but overlapping constructs. They measured and divided the participants into four clusters, groups that scored low on loneliness and low on depressive symptoms, low on loneness and high on depressive symptoms, high on loneliness and low on depressive symptoms and high on both depressive symptoms. Loneliness was scored by the Loneliness and Aloneness Scale for Children and Adolescents and depression was measured on the Children’s Depression Inventory. They also tested and scored the participants in friendship quality and quantity, happiness, and self-esteem. The results showed a majority scored in the low loneliness and depressive symptoms cluster and high friendship quality and quantity. The participants in the cluster which had high scores in both loneliness and depressive symptoms, referred to as the co-occurring group, had higher scores in both measurements than the other clusters combined. The co-occurring group also had lower friendship quality, lower self-esteem, and less happiness than all other clusters. These findings indicate that loneliness and depressive symptoms go hand in hand. Also, when combined these variables can heighten the negative effects on friendship quality, self-esteem and …show more content…
As mentioned before, depression and loneliness coupled together heighten depressive symptoms (Spithoven et al., 2016), depression can only worsen if the individual cannot form any solid or close relationships at all (Cook et al., 2016; Jylha et al., 2009). Jyalha and colleagues (2009) wanted to look into the extent neuroticism and introversion influenced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Major depressive patients from the Vantaa Depression Study, basically a collaborative depression research project between the Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research of the National Public Health Institute of Helsinki, Finland and the Department of Psychiatry of the Peijas Medical Care District of Vantaa, Finland, were interviewed at baseline and at six and 18 months. A general population group was also surveyed by mail to be a comparison group. The patients’ scores of neuroticism and extraversion-introversion were compared between time points and before and after a possibility of depression recurrence between interviews. The scores when the patients’ level of depression was lowest were compared to the scores of the general population, and it was found that the patients had higher neuroticism and lower extraversion scores compared to the general population. It was also noted that only depression had an impact on introversion during a
A study by Spithoven et al. (2016) looked into how depression and loneliness were distinct but overlapping constructs. They measured and divided the participants into four clusters, groups that scored low on loneliness and low on depressive symptoms, low on loneness and high on depressive symptoms, high on loneliness and low on depressive symptoms and high on both depressive symptoms. Loneliness was scored by the Loneliness and Aloneness Scale for Children and Adolescents and depression was measured on the Children’s Depression Inventory. They also tested and scored the participants in friendship quality and quantity, happiness, and self-esteem. The results showed a majority scored in the low loneliness and depressive symptoms cluster and high friendship quality and quantity. The participants in the cluster which had high scores in both loneliness and depressive symptoms, referred to as the co-occurring group, had higher scores in both measurements than the other clusters combined. The co-occurring group also had lower friendship quality, lower self-esteem, and less happiness than all other clusters. These findings indicate that loneliness and depressive symptoms go hand in hand. Also, when combined these variables can heighten the negative effects on friendship quality, self-esteem and …show more content…
As mentioned before, depression and loneliness coupled together heighten depressive symptoms (Spithoven et al., 2016), depression can only worsen if the individual cannot form any solid or close relationships at all (Cook et al., 2016; Jylha et al., 2009). Jyalha and colleagues (2009) wanted to look into the extent neuroticism and introversion influenced symptoms of depression and anxiety. Major depressive patients from the Vantaa Depression Study, basically a collaborative depression research project between the Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research of the National Public Health Institute of Helsinki, Finland and the Department of Psychiatry of the Peijas Medical Care District of Vantaa, Finland, were interviewed at baseline and at six and 18 months. A general population group was also surveyed by mail to be a comparison group. The patients’ scores of neuroticism and extraversion-introversion were compared between time points and before and after a possibility of depression recurrence between interviews. The scores when the patients’ level of depression was lowest were compared to the scores of the general population, and it was found that the patients had higher neuroticism and lower extraversion scores compared to the general population. It was also noted that only depression had an impact on introversion during a