A longitudinal investigation of men’s depressive symptoms and psychological wellbeing: the role of friendship networks and social support

Abstract Social disconnection among men is of concern worldwide. This study prospectively investigates men’s social connections with friends and associations with depressive symptoms and psychological wellbeing. Data were from a community sample of Australian men ( n = 528) across five annual waves. We assessed three structural indicators of men’s social connections (time spent with friends, number of close friends and number of extended friends). Using person-centered, intensive longitudinal mediation analyses, we investigated their associations with depressive symptoms and psychological wellbeing (environmental mastery and purpose in life) and the mediating role of social support from friends (a functional indicator of social connection). In all nine models, each indicator of social connection was associated with social support (a path; β range = 0.04 to 0.14). Social support was associated with depressive symptoms (b path; β range = − 0.17 to − 0.14), environmental mastery (b path; β range = 0.23 to 0.24), and purpose in life (b path; β range = 0.08 to 0.10). Social support mediated associations between indicators of social connection and depression (indirect; β range = − 0.04 to − 0.02), environmental mastery (indirect; β range = 0.02 to 0.04), and purpose in life (indirect; β range = 0.01 to 0.02). Given high rates of social disengagement and isolation in men, our findings give weight to calls for public health investments that facilitate meaningful social connections with friends, where access to social support may promote better mental health and psychological wellbeing.