Study Suggests 'Goths' At Higher Risk Of Depression

Young people who identify themselves as 'goths' are more likely to be at risk of depression and self-harm, according to new research.

Findings published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal show that teenagers who identified strongly with being a goth at age 15 were three times more likely to be clinically depressed.

Goths are also more likely to self-harm at age 18 than young people who did not identify with the subculture.

Dr Lucy Bowes from the University of Oxford said: "Our study does not show that being a goth causes depression or self-harm, but rather that some young goths are more vulnerable to developing these conditions."

The study looked at 3,694 15-year-olds based around Bristol.

Researchers discovered the more young people who identified as goth, the higher their likelihood of self-harm and depression.

Those who identified with the group were also more likely to have other wide ranging individual, family and social issues including emotional and behavioural difficulties, psychiatric disorder, a history of bullying and the mental health of mothers.

Although some other subcultures were also associated with adult depression and self-harm (ie, 'skaters' and 'loners') the associated was strongest for goths.

Young people who self-identified as 'sporty' were least likely to have depression or self-harm at age 18.

The authors of the study concluded more work need to be done with young people in the goth community to identify those at risk and to provide them support.

(LM)