Dataset Information

Might depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets explain vulnerability to and resistance against violent radicalisation?

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study tests whether depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets offer protection or suggest vulnerability to the process of radicalisation.

Methods

A population sample of 608 men and women of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin, of Muslim heritage, and aged 18-45 were recruited by quota sampling. Radicalisation was measured by 16 questions asking about sympathies for violent protest and terrorism. Cluster analysis of the 16 items generated three groups: most sympathetic (or most vulnerable), most condemning (most resistant), and a large intermediary group that acted as a reference group. Associations were calculated with depression (PHQ9), anxiety (GAD7), poor health, and psychosocial adversity (adverse life events, perceived discrimination, unemployment). We also investigated protective factors such as the number social contacts, social capital (trust, satisfaction, feeling safe), political engagement and religiosity.

Results

Those showing the most sympathy for violent protest and terrorism were more likely to report depression (PHQ9 score of 5 or more; RR = 5.43, 1.35 to 21.84) and to report religion to be important (less often said religion was fairly rather than very important; RR = 0.08, 0.01 to 0.48). Resistance to radicalisation measured by condemnation of violent protest and terrorism was associated with larger number of social contacts (per contact: RR = 1.52, 1.26 to 1.83), less social capital (RR = 0.63, 0.50 to 0.80), unavailability for work due to housekeeping or disability (RR = 8.81, 1.06 to 37.46), and not being born in the UK (RR = 0.22, 0.08 to 0.65).

Conclusions

Vulnerability to radicalisation is characterised by depression but resistance to radicalisation shows a different profile of health and psychosocial variables. The paradoxical role of social capital warrants further investigation.

SUBMITTER: Bhui K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4174521 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Might depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets explain vulnerability to and resistance against violent radicalisation?

Bhui Kamaldeep K Everitt Brian B Jones Edgar E

PloS one 20140924 9

<h4>Background</h4>This study tests whether depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets offer protection or suggest vulnerability to the process of radicalisation.<h4>Methods</h4>A population sample of 608 men and women of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin, of Muslim heritage, and aged 18-45 were recruited by quota sampling. Radicalisation was measured by 16 questions asking about sympathies for violent protest and terrorism. Cluster analysis of the 16 items generated three group ...[more]

PMID: 25250577

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Project description:Depression is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. across all race/ethnicity groups. While non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic persons have worse physical health on most indicators than non-Hispanic White persons, the literature on the association between race/ethnicity and rates of depression is mixed. Given unequal distribution of assets across racial/ethnic groups, it is possible that social and economic differences may explain differential rates of depression across race/ethnicity groups. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2007–2016, we constructed a nationally representative sample of 26,382 adults over 18 years old (11,072 non-Hispanic White, 5,610 non-Hispanic Black, 6,981 Hispanic, and 2,719 Other race). We measured symptoms of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with a score of 10 or more indicating probable depression. We identified three kinds of assets: financial assets (income), physical assets (home ownership), and social assets (marital status and education). We estimated the weighted prevalence of probable depression across race/ethnicity groups, odds ratios controlling for assets, and predicted probabilities of probable depression across race/ethnicity and asset groups. Three results contribute to our understanding of the differences in probable depression rates between race/ethnicity groups: 1) Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic persons had a higher weighted prevalence of probable depression in the U.S. than non-Hispanic White persons. In models unadjusted for assets, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic persons had 1.3 greater odds of probable depression than non-Hispanic White persons (p<0.01). 2) We found an inverse relation between assets and probable depression across all race-ethnicity groups. Also, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic persons had fewer assets than non-Hispanic Whites. 3) When we controlled for assets, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic persons had 0.8 times lower odds of probable depression than non-Hispanic White persons (p<0.05). Thus, when holding assets constant, minorities had better mental health than non-Hispanic White persons in the U.S. These three findings help to reconcile findings in the literature on race/ethnicity and depression. Given vastly unequal distribution of wealth in the U.S., it is not surprising that racial minorities, who hold fewer assets, would have an overall larger prevalence of mental illness, as seen in unadjusted estimates. Once assets are taken into account, Black and Hispanic persons appear to have better mental health than non-Hispanic White persons. Assets may explain much of the relation between race/ethnicity group and depression in the U.S. Future research should consider the role of assets in protecting against mental illness.

Dataset Information

Might depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets explain vulnerability to and resistance against violent radicalisation?

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Might depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets explain vulnerability to and resistance against violent radicalisation?

Similar Datasets

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