Study suggests Goths at higher risk of depression

A new study, published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry, has suggested that youngster who identify as Goths likely have an increased risk of depression and self-harm. The link between them was not fully explained by the researchers but then they have suggested that Goths tendency to distance them from society could play a part.

Since long, the youth have been getting inclined towards Goth movement in which the main emphasis is put on black clothes, heavy black make-up and at times gloomy music with doom laden lyrics.

During the study, researchers analyzed 3,694 15-year-olds based in Bristol and found that the more young people were inclined towards Goth subculture the higher were their chances of self-harm and depression.

The people who consider them to be a part of the Goth group were more likely to have shown signs of depression at a lesser age than 15. There are chances that they were bullied in the past. But, scientists have argued that the link is still there even after these factors are accounted for.

As per Dr. Rebecca Pearson, researcher from the University of Bristol, there could be a number of reasons behind the trend, like the youngsters who are vulnerable to depression were fascinated to the Goth way of life.

She said, "The extent to which young people self-identify with Goth subculture may represent the extent to which at-risk young people feel isolated, ostracized or stigmatized by society".