THE PHENOMENON OF INFERIORITY AND DEPRESSION

Abstract

Introduction. In modern societal conditions, the pathology of the affective sphere occupies a special place among general medical problems. One of the central phenomena, both in depression and in another common affective disorder – mania, is the issue of self-esteem. Aim. To study the presence of depressive disorders depending on the presence of the inferiority phenomenon. Methods of research. The study uses data from the survey of 612 university students of higher education institutions of III and IV accreditation in Lviv, conducted in October – November 2021. Among the respondents, 57.35% (n=351) were men and 42.65% (n=261) were women. The average age of respondents was 20.31±2.99. Respondents filled out questionnaires of the Comparative Feeling of Inferiority Index (CFII) to determine the presence or absence of phenomenon of inferiority (PhI) and Beck’s Depression Inventory – to determine the level of depression. Results. Most often, depression was found in the group of individuals with the index of PhI superiority, who had signs of an extreme desire to compensate for an excessive feeling of inferiority in any way. In particular, about a third (32.35% [21.83–43.86]) of those surveyed had depression, while in the group with no altered self-esteem, the value was 21.36% [17.88–25.05] (p=0.042). The highest median value of scores on the depression scale was also found in the group of individuals with the index of PhI superiority (10 [6; 15] points), p<0.001, compared to respondents with no altered self-esteem. A comparison by gender showed a significantly higher number of women with depression than men; 46.67% [29.40-64.35] of women with the index of PhI superiority had symptoms of depression. Median values of depression scores were also higher in women in all studied subgroups (p<0.05). Conclusions. Research and understanding the phenomenon of inferiority is important for its in-depth study in the context of association with other psychopathological human conditions, especially in the current environment.