Symposia
Global Mental Health
Pankhuri Aggarwal, M.A.
Graduate student
Miami University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Vaishali V. Raval, Ph.D.
Professor
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio
While depression is known to impact individuals from all age groups, gender identities, and regions in the country, higher rates of depression in India have been documented among young adults, college students, and urban dwellers (Joseph, 2011; Satyanarayana et al., 2017). Moreover, these rates have only gotten worse since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic (Grover et al., 2020). Exploratory qualitative studies, blog posts, and media articles have identified interpersonal difficulties and concerns (e.g., conflict, perceived refusal) as a major factor linked with depression for this population (Aggarwal et al., 2021; Raghuram et al., 2001; Raval et al., 2019). However, the association between interpersonal difficulties and depression has not been empirically tested in this population cross-sectionally or longitudinally. Additionally, the psychological mechanisms that make some youth more susceptible to experiencing depression at the advent of interpersonal difficulties have also not been examined.
This study aims to test the association between the quality of interpersonal relationships (with immediate and extended family, peers, and romantic partners) and depressive symptoms, among urban, educated, middle-class young adults in India both concurrently and longitudinally (after six months). The second aim of the study was to examine the moderating effects of inclusion of others in one’s definition of self, upward social comparison of relations, relationship contingent self-esteem, and increased conflict/ togetherness in relations because of COVID-19 pandemic in the association between poor quality of interpersonal relations and depressive symptoms. A total of 549 young adults attending college completed online questionnaires at time 1 (Mage = 21.4 years, 66.2% female). More than half (n = 305) completed the survey after six months (time 2). Preliminary results from time 1 indicate significant positive relations between depression and three domains of quality of interpersonal relations (support, conflict, and depth) (p< 0.01). Results of this study have implications for identifying treatment targets and adapting existing psychosocial and interpersonally-oriented treatments for managing depression in India.