Shared identity predicts enhanced health at a mass gathering

Khan, SS, Hopkins, N, Reicher, S, Tewari, S, Srinivasan, N and Stevenson, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2438-6425, 2014. Shared identity predicts enhanced health at a mass gathering. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 18 (4), pp. 504-522. ISSN 1368-4302

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Abstract

Identifying with a group can impact (positively) upon group members’ health. This can be explained (in part) through the social relations that a shared identity allows. We investigated the relationship between a shared identity and health in a longitudinal study of a month-long pilgrimage in north India. Questionnaire data (N = 416) showed that self-reported health (measured before, during, and after the event) was better at the event than before, and although it reduced on returning home, it remained higher than before the event. This trajectory was predicted by data concerning pilgrims’ perceptions of a shared identity with other pilgrims at the event. We also found evidence that a shared identity amongst pilgrims had an indirect effect on changes in self-assessed health via the belief one had closer relations with one’s fellow pilgrims. We discuss the implications of these data for our understandings of the role of shared identity in social relations and health.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Group Processes & Intergroup Relations
Creators:	Khan, S.S., Hopkins, N., Reicher, S., Tewari, S., Srinivasan, N. and Stevenson, C.
Publisher:	Sage
Date:	17 December 2014
Volume:	18
Number:	4
ISSN:	1368-4302
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1177/1368430214556703 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	23 Jan 2017 11:37
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2017 13:09
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29917

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