Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Open Access

Abstract

Influence of the Relationship between Social Support and Independent-Construal of Self on Depression and Anxiety among Japanese Workers

Yukihiro Takagishi, Masatsugu Sakata, Fumiko Ueda and Toshinori Kitamura

Background:Independent-interdependent self-construal is one of the constructs related to self-definition. Independent self-construal is defined as having clear boundaries between self and others and giving greater weight to personal goals as opposed to group goals; interpersonal self-construal, on the other hand, refers to maintaining harmonious, cooperative relationships with others. Previous research has shown that self-construals are related to mental health issues.

Methods: A set of questionnaires measuring self-construal, social support, depression, and anxiety was collected from 532 people working at two different workplaces to examine the relationship between self-construals and social support. The structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between the variables in high and low social support groups.

Results and Conclusion: The result of the SEM suggests that independent self-construal mitigated depression and anxiety in the group with more social support. However, there was no reduction effect on depression and anxiety in the group with less social support. In addition, the older the worker, the less likely they were to have anxiety symptoms when in the group with more social support. Self-construal and social support have effects on psychological symptoms via interactions between the two and that the combination of high social support and independent self-construal is a contributing factor for mitigating depression and anxiety.