Interpersonal Relations and Psychological Functioning Among Young Adults in India

Depression is a major mental health disorder worldwide and studies show that a majority of individuals with depression reside in low and middle-income countries. India is one such country, where it is estimated that more than 57 million people are affected by depression, making it a major public health concern. The prevalence of depression is especially high among young adults and urban dwellers. Despite its prevalence, there is limited literature examining the factors that contribute to depression in this population, resulting in Indian scholars and practitioners to heavily depend on research conducted in high-income countries.

Pankhuri Aggarwal, a PhD Candidate at Miami University in Ohio, is using an MRI grant to address this gap and to promote culturally informed practices associated with conceptualizing and treating depression among urban, educated, middle-class young adults in India. Following up on exploratory research work that indicates that impairment in interpersonal relations is a key factor contributing to depression, Ms. Aggarwal plans to test the association between poor quality of interpersonal relations and depressive symptoms. Additionally, she will examine the conditions that increase the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms to help identify individuals at risk and aid in designing targeted interventions.

Ms. Aggarwal’s hypotheses are: 1) Poor quality of interpersonal relations (with family, friends, and romantic partners) will be associated with greater symptoms of depression, both concurrently and longitudinally, and these relationships will be moderated by greater inclusion of others in one’s definition of self. 2) Poor quality of interpersonal relations with romantic partners will be associated with greater symptoms of depression, and these relationships will be moderated by frequent upward social comparison of romantic relations. 3) Poor quality of interpersonal relations with parents will be associated with greater symptoms of depression, and these relationships will be moderated by the increased feeling of conflict and decreased feeling of togetherness brought as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This project has significant research and clinical implications. At present, a majority of the understanding of risk factors associated with depression in India is derived from theoretical articles, popular media articles, and exploratory qualitative research studies. This study will be the first to test the empirical links between poor quality of interpersonal relations and depressive symptoms among urban, educated young adults in India. In addition to building on the existing literature on the salience of interpersonal functioning and its role in depression in this population, the results from the study will provide scientific evidence regarding different conditions that heighten the risk for experiencing depression. Understanding how individuals make sense of themselves and their relations, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interpersonal functioning, and how it relates to depression could pave the way for timely and appropriate therapeutic interventions, overall reducing the burden of the disease.