Why is identity important?
For some children, the way they feel about themselves and their social identities may increase theirvulnerability to depression.
What Is Social Identity?
Verywell / Catherine Song
Every child has asocial identity.
This is how they perceive their roles in society in relation to others.
People around us confirm or deny our social identity.
Societal confirmation of a child’s identity can impact the way they feel about themselves.
Social identity allows people to be part of groups and gain a sense of belonging in their social world.
These identities play an important role in shaping self-image.
Connection Between Social Identity and Depression
When people are depressed, they tend to experience social withdrawal.
But not all children who experience changes or threats to their social identities will experience depression.
This is not to say that a child cannot develop a new social identity.
It simply highlights the importance of how a child views themselves in relation to the world around them.
When social identity is rapidly changed, threatened, or questioned, a child may become vulnerable to depression.
Try not to place too much emphasis on any one single social role.
Instead, encourage the child to try new and different things.
It is typical for a child to feel sad after a disappointment or the loss of a significant relationship.
But if that child is showingsymptoms of depression, seek advice from their pediatrician or a mental health provider.
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