Social network characteristics are associated with depressive symptoms: The Maastricht Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Previous studies suggested that social network characteristics are associated with depression. However, most of the previous studies investigated social network characteristics in isolation. We assessed the association of both structural and functional social network characteristics with prevalent and incident depressive symptoms over 5 years of follow-up. Methods We used data from 2,465 participants (49.1% women, mean age 59.8± 8.1 years) of The Maastricht Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. Social network characteristics were assessed through a name generator questionnaire. Depressive symptoms (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥10) were assessed at baseline and annually over 5 years. We used multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression analyses adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors. Results Less emotional (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)):1.19; 1.01-1.40) and informational support (OR (95%CI): 1.20 (1.04-1.39), and every fewer 10% of family members (OR(95%CI) 1.11 (1.01-1.23) were associated with prevalent clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Less emotional support (hazard ratio: 1.13; 95%CI: 1.03-1.25) was associated with incident clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Conclusions This study observed associations between poor social network characteristics with higher odds of depressive symptoms. In particular, less emotional support was associated with both prevalent and incident depressive symptoms. Key messages Poor social network characteristics were associated prevalent depressive symptoms. Less social support was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms.