Membership in fraternities and sororities, depression, and suicidal ideation

Psychol Rep. 2014 Jun;114(3):966-70. doi: 10.2466/17.12.PR0.114k28w4. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Abstract

College student membership in fraternities/sororities may have positive or negative effects on their behavior. This study investigated the relationships between fraternity/sorority membership, depression, and suicidal behavior. 293 undergraduate students (232 women, 61 men; M age = 22.6 yr., SD = 1.5, range = 18-24; 127 sorority sisters, 35 fraternity brothers) from a rural state college participated in the study. Depression, self-esteem and perceived social support were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. Depression and suicidal ideation correlated negatively with self-esteem and perceived social support, but were not correlated with membership in fraternities/sororities.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Female
  • Group Processes*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rural Population
  • Self Concept
  • Social Behavior*
  • Social Identification*
  • Social Support
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Students / psychology*
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Young Adult