Gordon Flett

Yes, there is extensive research on the depression side and a little bit of research so far in terms of substance abuse.

We just published a new meta-analysis showing that anti-mattering across about 20 studies or so is strongly associated with depression, even more so than the positive feeling of mattering being linked with less depression.

There are a few studies now linking

not mattering with addictive tendencies, including social media addiction.

And there I would look at it as these are people who have likely internalized the feeling of not mattering so that they've got into the sort of the what the hell, I'll do whatever I want because I don't have much happening and I don't see a positive future.

So I'll do whatever that is and not worry about the consequences.

So the most extensive research so far has been focused on two themes, the link between the feeling of not mattering and depression, and the link between the feeling of not mattering and loneliness.

Yes, there is.

It's shown both in terms of research as well as in case studies.

And in terms of the research, there's about 10 studies now that show the link between the feeling of not mattering, especially with our anti-mattering scale and suicidality.

And some of these people also tend to be perfectionistic where they feel that too much has been expected of them and they feel that they don't matter.

And the sad part is, often with people who have clearly reached some conclusion that they don't matter, they've convinced themselves that they are so insignificant.

But importantly, I have to point out that the main slogan of the suicide prevention program in the United States is, you matter.

And that slogan was out there before any research was done.

And I think it was because people realized that there's a life-saving potential to showing somebody that they matter and also finding a way to get the people to feel that sense of mattering so that they're not going to get to that point.

And it's so uplifting when somebody says, I'm not feeling great today.

I don't matter.

And then legions of people jump in saying, yes, you do.

You can call me.

you know, total strangers or people that know them.