How Does Reciprocal Exchange of Social Support Alleviate Individuals' Depression in an Earthquake-Damaged Community?

Arpana Pandit,Yoshinori Nakagawa

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041585

Abstract

There is ample evidence to indicate the direct effects of receiving social support on mental health during and after a disaster. However, the importance of reciprocal exchanges of social support (i.e., balanced receipt and provision of social support) in maintaining the mental health status of individuals is not widely recognized. Using equity theory and reciprocity norms as a conceptual base, we distinguished two types of social support, namely, emotional support and instrumental support, and examined the effects of reciprocal exchanges of types of support on depression in survivors of an earthquake-damaged community. To collect data, in 2019, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 295 survivors of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake in a rural village in Nepal. Our results showed that the relationship between reciprocal exchange of support and depression varied depending on the types of support. The amount of emotional support received by the individual alleviated his/her depression only when accompanied by giving emotional support. By contrast, the net amount of instrumental support given by the individual increased his/her depression. The practical implications of the study are discussed.

Highlights

Natural disasters such as earthquakes cause loss of life, damage to property, destruction of infrastructure, and a range of harmful psychological disorders, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and anxiety [1,2,3]
Once the interaction effects of giving and receiving social support are taken into account, our findings suggest that receiving additional emotional support alleviates depression only when it is accompanied by giving additional support within a reciprocal relationship
This study analyzed the impact of reciprocal exchanges of types of social support in the depression status of the survivors in earthquake-damaged community

Summary

Introduction

Natural disasters such as earthquakes cause loss of life, damage to property, destruction of infrastructure, and a range of harmful psychological disorders, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and anxiety [1,2,3]. It has been reported that 15–20 percent of survivors will experience mild or moderate psychological disorders, while 3–4 percent will suffer severe disorders, including severe depression or severe anxiety after natural disaster [4,5]. These mental health issues can significantly impact quality of life and living conditions in disaster-affected areas. A 2011 systematic review of mental health problems after the Great East Japan earthquake reported a prevalence of depression ranging from 3.0% to 43.7% following the disaster [7]. Depression is associated with multiple factors, including sociodemographic factors, sociocultural influences, disasterinduced economic losses, posttraumatic exposure, cognitive and physical impairment, and loss of social connection [9]

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