The role of social networks on mental health after a catastrophe
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15111403
This study from 2016 sought to examine the role of social networks on mental health issues, specifically depression and PTSD in the aftermath of adversity. The researchers studied 558 individuals in a community that had collectively experienced the severe bushfires of Australia in February 2009. This event, known as “Black Saturday,” caused 173 fatalities and damaged thousands of buildings. The disaster was chosen for the study precisely because of its widespread nature–it was a good candidate to witness effects of trauma on an entire network.
The social network used was created by asking the fire survivors to identify people they considered themselves close to, so all the ties were directed. The outcome of the study indicated that participants who nominated close network ties were less likely to be depressed. However, people linked to depressed participants were more likely to be depressed themselves. Additionally, survivors who had close ties to people who moved out of the community were also more likely to be depressed. In terms of PTSD, being nominated as a close tie generally indicated a lower likelihood of PTSD, unless the nominator had experienced high levels of property loss. Also, individuals positioned between people who were not connected was also related to higher risk of PTSD.
Altogether, this study provides a novel way of thinking about mental health problems related to community disasters. The authors utilized the principle of close ties to create a network that would represent the people an individual who likely reach out to for support. Notably, the ties in this network were all positive but directed and not necessarily reciprocal. The study indicated that nominating close ties and being nominated as a close ties predicted separate patterns in mental health. The finding about PTSD also loosely relates to the Strong Triadic Closure principle, because the individuals who have unlinked friends were at higher risk of PTSD, which provides evidence for the security and stability that having closed triangles can provide to one’s social life.