Gender Differences in Perceived Social Support and Existential Nihilism in Depressive Disorder

Abstract

Background: Depression is frequently accompanied by existential distress, including feelings of meaninglessness and hopelessness. Existential nihilism, a belief that life lacks inherent purpose, represents an important yet underexamined dimension of depressive experience. Perceived social support, conversely, is known to buffer psychological distress and may protect against existential despair. However, the relationship between perceived social support and existential nihilism among individuals with depression has not been adequately explored, nor have the associated gender differences. Objective: This study aims to examine gender differences in perceived social support and existential nihilism, and to assess the relationship between these variables among individuals diagnosed with depression. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design was adopted. The study included 60 participants (30 males, 30 females), aged 18–45 years, diagnosed with depressive disorder as per ICD-11 criteria. Perceived social support was assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), while existential nihilism was measured with the Existential Nihilism Scale (ENS). Data were collected individually and analysed using the Mann–Whitney U test for gender comparisons and Spearman’s rank-order correlation for examining the association between the two constructs. Results: Females reported significantly higher levels of perceived social support compared to males (U = 236.00, p = .002). In contrast, males demonstrated significantly higher levels of existential nihilism (U = 279.00, p = .011). A strong, negative correlation was found between perceived social support and existential nihilism (ρ = –.870, p < .001), indicating that individuals with higher perceived social support experienced markedly lower levels of existential despair. Conclusion: Findings highlight the significant protective role of perceived social support against existential nihilism in depression. Gender-based patterns suggest that women benefit from stronger support systems, whereas men may be more vulnerable to existential concerns. These results underscore the importance of integrating social support enhancement and existentially informed approaches into therapeutic interventions for depression.