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. 2014 Sep 24;9(9):e105918.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105918. eCollection 2014.

Might depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets explain vulnerability to and resistance against violent radicalisation?

Kamaldeep Bhui  1 , Brian Everitt  2 , Edgar Jones  3
Affiliations

Might depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets explain vulnerability to and resistance against violent radicalisation?

Kamaldeep Bhui et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: This study tests whether depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets offer protection or suggest vulnerability to the process of radicalisation.

Methods: A population sample of 608 men and women of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin, of Muslim heritage, and aged 18-45 were recruited by quota sampling. Radicalisation was measured by 16 questions asking about sympathies for violent protest and terrorism. Cluster analysis of the 16 items generated three groups: most sympathetic (or most vulnerable), most condemning (most resistant), and a large intermediary group that acted as a reference group. Associations were calculated with depression (PHQ9), anxiety (GAD7), poor health, and psychosocial adversity (adverse life events, perceived discrimination, unemployment). We also investigated protective factors such as the number social contacts, social capital (trust, satisfaction, feeling safe), political engagement and religiosity.

Results: Those showing the most sympathy for violent protest and terrorism were more likely to report depression (PHQ9 score of 5 or more; RR = 5.43, 1.35 to 21.84) and to report religion to be important (less often said religion was fairly rather than very important; RR = 0.08, 0.01 to 0.48). Resistance to radicalisation measured by condemnation of violent protest and terrorism was associated with larger number of social contacts (per contact: RR = 1.52, 1.26 to 1.83), less social capital (RR = 0.63, 0.50 to 0.80), unavailability for work due to housekeeping or disability (RR = 8.81, 1.06 to 37.46), and not being born in the UK (RR = 0.22, 0.08 to 0.65).

Conclusions: Vulnerability to radicalisation is characterised by depression but resistance to radicalisation shows a different profile of health and psychosocial variables. The paradoxical role of social capital warrants further investigation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The data collection was commissioned from IPSOS-MORI. KB and EJ are trustees of Careif. KB is Director of MSc Psychological Therapies, MSc Transcultural Mental Healthcare, and co-Director of MSc Mental Health and Law. EJ is Director of MSc War and Psychiatry. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Demographic characteristics by clusters (univariable, weighted data).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Psychosocial and health characteristics by clusters (multivariable, weighted data).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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