Scholarlink

<p>Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage characterized by identity exploration, heightened sensitivity to peer relationships, and the need for belonging. This study examined the association between ostracism and belief in conspiracy theories among Indian adolescents, testing the sequential mediating roles of psychological needs frustration and depression. Data were collected from 582 school-going adolescents (50.7% boys, 49.3% girls; Mage = 13.56 years, SD = 1.19) enrolled in Grades 6–10 from a public secondary school in Delhi-NCR, India, during April 2023 who completed ostracism experience scale for adolescents, basic psychological needs frustration scale, self-rating depression scale and adolescent conspiracy beliefs questionnaire. Structural equation modeling indicated that ostracism significantly and positively predicted belief in conspiracy theories (H1: β = 0.22, <i>p</i> &lt; .05). Psychological needs frustration significantly mediated the relationship between ostracism and conspiracy beliefs (H2: indirect effect = 0.21, <i>p</i> &lt; .001), while depression also emerged as a significant mediator (H3: indirect effect = 0.32, <i>p</i> &lt; .001). The sequential mediation pathway was likewise significant (H4: indirect effect = 0.50, <i>p</i> &lt; .001), indicating that ostracism undermines adolescents’ core psychological needs, which in turn contribute to depressive symptoms and increase susceptibility to conspiratorial thinking. Multi-group analysis showed that the mediating pathways from ostracism through psychological needs frustration and depression to belief in conspiracy theories were similar for both boys and girls (Δχ² (13) = 14.27, <i>p</i> = .26). By integrating psychological models with sociological perspectives, the findings highlight adolescence as a developmental stage of heightened vulnerability to maladaptive meaning-making. The study offers important theoretical and practical implications for promoting social inclusion and psychological well-being among adolescents.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Mediating Role of Psychological Needs Frustration and Depression on the Relationship Between Ostracism and Belief in Conspiracy Theories Among Adolescents in Delhi-NCR, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月4日

查看全文
  • Shruti Sharma,
  • Mohammad Ghazi Shahnawaz

摘要

Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage characterized by identity exploration, heightened sensitivity to peer relationships, and the need for belonging. This study examined the association between ostracism and belief in conspiracy theories among Indian adolescents, testing the sequential mediating roles of psychological needs frustration and depression. Data were collected from 582 school-going adolescents (50.7% boys, 49.3% girls; Mage = 13.56 years, SD = 1.19) enrolled in Grades 6–10 from a public secondary school in Delhi-NCR, India, during April 2023 who completed ostracism experience scale for adolescents, basic psychological needs frustration scale, self-rating depression scale and adolescent conspiracy beliefs questionnaire. Structural equation modeling indicated that ostracism significantly and positively predicted belief in conspiracy theories (H1: β = 0.22, p < .05). Psychological needs frustration significantly mediated the relationship between ostracism and conspiracy beliefs (H2: indirect effect = 0.21, p < .001), while depression also emerged as a significant mediator (H3: indirect effect = 0.32, p < .001). The sequential mediation pathway was likewise significant (H4: indirect effect = 0.50, p < .001), indicating that ostracism undermines adolescents’ core psychological needs, which in turn contribute to depressive symptoms and increase susceptibility to conspiratorial thinking. Multi-group analysis showed that the mediating pathways from ostracism through psychological needs frustration and depression to belief in conspiracy theories were similar for both boys and girls (Δχ² (13) = 14.27, p = .26). By integrating psychological models with sociological perspectives, the findings highlight adolescence as a developmental stage of heightened vulnerability to maladaptive meaning-making. The study offers important theoretical and practical implications for promoting social inclusion and psychological well-being among adolescents.