From social adversity to sympathy for violent radicalization: the role of depression, religiosity and social support

Abstract

BackgroundDiscrepancies among studies suggest that the relation between social adversity and sympathy for violent radicalization (SVR) is multifaceted and may differ according to social context. This paper examines the role of depression, religiosity and social support in the relation between social adversity (i.e., discrimination and exposure to violence) and SVR among college students in Quebec, Canada.MethodsA total of 1894 students responded to an online questionnaire posted on the internet of eight colleges. Multilevel analyses were first conducted to account for the clustered nature of the data, followed by mediation and moderation analyses.ResultsFirst generation migrants reported less SVR than second generation youth and non-immigrants. The mediating and/or moderating role of depression, religiosity and social support was examined through causal inference models. Depression mediated the relation between social adversity and SVR, with depression scores accounting for 47% and 25% of the total effect between discrimination and exposure to violence and SVR scores, respectively. Religiosity and social support moderated the association between social adversity and SVR.ConclusionsThese results suggest that prevention programs should consider violent radicalization as a systemic issue which involves both minorities and the majority, although the specific balance between risk and protective factors may be influenced by local dynamics. They also question intervention measures targeting specifically migrants or ethno-cultural communities because of the risk of increasing profiling and stigmatization. Prevention programs should prioritize decreasing discrimination in colleges, as well as the provision of psychosocial support to depressed youth who experience social adversity.

Systematic Review of Mental Health Problems and Violent Extremism

“…Further follow up studies also highlighted correlations between anxiety and post-traumatic stress and sympathies for violent extremism (Bhui et al, 2019). Rousseau et al (2019) replicated the results pertaining to depression in a Canadian context. They additionally found depression was a significant mediator of the effect of exposure to violence and discrimination and sympathies for violent radicalisation.…”

Conspiracy Theories, Psychological Distress, and Sympathy for Violent Radicalization in Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The association between psychological distress and support for VR has been repeatedly corroborated [20,21]; in contrast, to date no research has explored the potential moderation of the association between COVID-19 conspiracist ideation and support for VR by psychological distress. Studying the relationships between conspiracy theories, attitudes legitimizing VR, and psychological distress is crucial in developing public health communication and prevention programs which take into account the mental health component of these social dynamics.…”

Are there Local Differences in Support for Violent Radicalization? A Study on College Students in the Province of Quebec, Canada

“…The fact that students who were not discriminated in Quebec City were at higher risk of support for VR than those who were discriminated led us to think that this intriguing result could be linked to specific majority‐minority dynamics in this region. Indeed, our prior findings documented the combined role of discrimination and depression on support for VR (Rousseau, Hassan, et al, 2019). Specifically, prior research has documented a direct association between discrimination and support for VR (Rousseau et al, 2018; Rousseau, Oulhote, et al, 2019) and between depression and support for VR (Miconi, Oulhote, Hassan, & Rousseau, 2020; Rousseau, Hassan, et al, 2019), as well as an indirect effect of discrimination on support for VR via the mediating role of depression (Rousseau, Hassan, et al, 2019).…”

“…Indeed, our prior findings documented the combined role of discrimination and depression on support for VR (Rousseau, Hassan, et al, 2019). Specifically, prior research has documented a direct association between discrimination and support for VR (Rousseau et al, 2018; Rousseau, Oulhote, et al, 2019) and between depression and support for VR (Miconi, Oulhote, Hassan, & Rousseau, 2020; Rousseau, Hassan, et al, 2019), as well as an indirect effect of discrimination on support for VR via the mediating role of depression (Rousseau, Hassan, et al, 2019). In other words, while both discrimination and depression can be considered risk factors, prior findings suggest that higher levels of discrimination are associated with higher levels of depression, which in turn are associated with higher levels of support for VR, documenting a combined effect of the two risk factors.…”