The Relationship between the Need for Social Recognition and Depressive Tendencies among Filipino College Students

Abstract

Social recognition is a vital human need that works as a motivator to a wide range of human endeavours. In particular, young people value social recognition because it leads to good self-perception which is considered an important component of self-identity. It should be noted that the development of self-identity is very crucial at this stage of human development. The rise of social recognition at a young age may have been enhanced by the introduction of social media, which if unrestricted, may result in a “new face of depression”. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the need for social recognition and mental well-being, particularly with depressive tendencies that are experienced by young people. Using a sequential explanatory design, 207 Filipino male and female college students aged 18 to 24 years enrolled at the University of the Philippines Manila participated in this study. A Scale for the Need for Social Recognition was developed to measure the intensity of the need for social recognition, while the Beck Depression Inventory-11 provided data on depressive tendencies. The results revealed that the need for social recognition and level of depressive tendencies of respondents were both predominantly "moderate". The need for social recognition and depressive tendencies were found to be negatively correlated such that the higher the need, the lower the depressive tendency. This relationship, however, was confounded by the satisfaction of the need for social recognition since further analysis showed that if the need for social recognition was satisfied, depressive tendencies will be less. Aside from satisfaction of the need for social recognition, gender was also found to be a significant predictor of depression with more females reporting this experience. This study, therefore, implies that a way to reduce experiences of depression among young people is by developing programs that can help them achieve social recognition. Such programs may be in the form of educational and work opportunities, skills development, physical fitness programs and programs that enhance better relationships with people and the environment.