2044-8309/asset/olbannerleft.png?v=1&s=f80e174073b6a194e766cb6137a57ef69d187913)
2044-8309/asset/olbannerright.png?v=1&s=b860749f06e33b32094ade6fa72db5de1190d8e4)
Brief report
Comparing social contact and group identification as predictors of mental health
Article first published online: 2 MAY 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8309.2012.02101.x
©2012 The British Psychological Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Sani, F., Herrera, M., Wakefield, J. R. H., Boroch, O. and Gulyas, C. (2012), Comparing social contact and group identification as predictors of mental health. British Journal of Social Psychology, 51: 781–790. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8309.2012.02101.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 5 DEC 2012
- Article first published online: 2 MAY 2012
- Received 19 August 2011; revised version received 21 February 2012
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Current research on social integration and mental health operationalizes social integration as frequency of interactions and participation in social activities (i.e., social contact). This neglects the subjective dimension of social integration, namely group identification. We present two studies comparing the effect exerted by social contact and group identification on mental health (e.g., depression, stress) across two different groups (family; army unit), demonstrating that group identification predicts mental health better than social contact.