Summary article Risk of depression and self-harm in teenagers identifying with goth subculture: a
longitudinal cohort study
Introduction
•Depression is the leading contributor to the worldwide burden of disease in yung people aged 10-24
years. Raters of depression increase substantially during adolescence, a period of transition
characterised by social, emotional and physiological changes. During this period, peers are the main
sources for social comparison and appraisal, and self-consiousness is heightened.
•A s trong and robust increased risk of self-harm and attempted suicide has been reported in young
people identifiying with contemporary subculture and related subcultures generally described as
alternative youth. A goth is defined as a member of a subctulture favouring black clothing, white and
black make-up, and goth music. Much diversity exists within the goth culture.
•Why affiliation with goth subculture is associated with an increased risk of self-harm and whether it
is also associated with increased depression is unclear.
•This study aimed to test whether self-identification with the goth subculture at 15 years of age was
associated with self-harm and depression at 18 years of age.
Discussion
•Young people who self-identified as goths were more likely to be girls, more likely to have mothers
with a history of depression, to have a history of emotional issues, and to report issues with their
peers. Such vulnerablility factors for depression suggest a degree of self-selection, with young people
more suspectible to depression and selfharm being more likely to be attracted to the goth
subculture. Despite this, young people who self-identified as goths remained at an increased risk of
depression and selfharm compared with those who did not identify with the subculture.
•Individuals who are suspectible to depression might be more drawn to subcultureres, such as the
goths, which are known to embrace marginalised individuals from all backgrounds. Thus, the
reported association could be due to social selection factors.
•Peer contagion might represent one mechanism by which young be at an increased risk of
depression and selfharm. (je hebt meer kans op zelfsnijding bijvoorbeeld als je peers hebt die da took
doen)
•Emulation (imitation) is another possible mechanism.
•Another possible mechanism: stigmatization and social ostracising.
Leesvragen
Vraag 1: Wat is de centrale bevinding van deze studie?
Vraag 2: De auteurs geven een aantal verklaringen voor hun bevindingen. Benoem deze
mechanismen/verklaringen en leg uit.
longitudinal cohort study
Introduction
•Depression is the leading contributor to the worldwide burden of disease in yung people aged 10-24
years. Raters of depression increase substantially during adolescence, a period of transition
characterised by social, emotional and physiological changes. During this period, peers are the main
sources for social comparison and appraisal, and self-consiousness is heightened.
•A s trong and robust increased risk of self-harm and attempted suicide has been reported in young
people identifiying with contemporary subculture and related subcultures generally described as
alternative youth. A goth is defined as a member of a subctulture favouring black clothing, white and
black make-up, and goth music. Much diversity exists within the goth culture.
•Why affiliation with goth subculture is associated with an increased risk of self-harm and whether it
is also associated with increased depression is unclear.
•This study aimed to test whether self-identification with the goth subculture at 15 years of age was
associated with self-harm and depression at 18 years of age.
Discussion
•Young people who self-identified as goths were more likely to be girls, more likely to have mothers
with a history of depression, to have a history of emotional issues, and to report issues with their
peers. Such vulnerablility factors for depression suggest a degree of self-selection, with young people
more suspectible to depression and selfharm being more likely to be attracted to the goth
subculture. Despite this, young people who self-identified as goths remained at an increased risk of
depression and selfharm compared with those who did not identify with the subculture.
•Individuals who are suspectible to depression might be more drawn to subcultureres, such as the
goths, which are known to embrace marginalised individuals from all backgrounds. Thus, the
reported association could be due to social selection factors.
•Peer contagion might represent one mechanism by which young be at an increased risk of
depression and selfharm. (je hebt meer kans op zelfsnijding bijvoorbeeld als je peers hebt die da took
doen)
•Emulation (imitation) is another possible mechanism.
•Another possible mechanism: stigmatization and social ostracising.
Leesvragen
Vraag 1: Wat is de centrale bevinding van deze studie?
Vraag 2: De auteurs geven een aantal verklaringen voor hun bevindingen. Benoem deze
mechanismen/verklaringen en leg uit.
