Katharina Buczek
It is unclear the precise mechanisms underlying this potential “transmission” of mental health problems. Still, the researchers theorized there may be multiple explanations.
Primarily, having peers with diagnosed mental disorders might actually normalize getting help and undergoing treatment. In turn, this could lead to greater awareness and diagnosis of mental health problems.
Conversely, social influences and emotional contagion could also be factors since being exposed to a struggling friend for an extended period of time might cause similar symptoms to develop.
But, while the observed associations were statistically significant, it’s important to recognize that they were still relatively small. So, the researchers are warning not to draw definitive conclusions.
Rather, more research is needed to comprehensively understand the myriad of factors influencing mental health outcomes.
Nonetheless, this study has illuminated just how complex teenage friendships are and their long-term impacts on individual well-being.
“The findings significantly deepen our understanding of how mental health problems develop and affect others in our social networks,” concluded Christian Hakulinen, the study’s co-author.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in JAMA Psychiatry, visit the link here.
