Taylor Siwft's squad may cause depression in others.
Fans may be envious of Taylor Swift's squad, but according to a new study in the Social Science & Medicine journal, aspiring for a group of people on a higher social tier may lead to some mental health issues.
According to Yahoo! Health, the study resulted in two possible effects when dealing with big shots.
"One is called the 'social capital theory,' which suggests that people in high places will pull you up along with them," the article read, while the second one is reportedly called "comparative reference group theory."
This second result is the "less optimistic idea that high-status people will only make you feel inadequate by comparison."
Vanderbilt University sociologist, Lijun Song, PhD, tested which of the two mentioned theories are true. When she came up with after the study leaned more toward the second option.
"The higher the highest positions of your network members, the higher the degree of depression," Song reportedly told the Yahoo! Health.
While Taylor Swift's squad seems harmonious and perfect-looking, the members are all hotshots in their own careers. Made up of supermodels, record-breaking singers, and up-and-coming actresses, almost every young fan wants to join the crew or be a part of a group similar to that.
Even teen sensation Austin Mahone previously expressed his desire to join Swift's inner circle.
This same clique raised some controversy in the past moths, especially after the "Blank Space" singer came out with the action-filled music video for "Bad Blood."
Her superstar friends joined her in the movie-like video, making people raise the question of what she really thinks about feminism and the implication of her "pitching women against women" clip. It was also accused of being "cult-like" because almost all of the members in Taylor Swift's squad eerily similar - "tall, thin and polished" according to Inquisitr.
On the other hand, Professor Song agreed that aspiring for big shot friends are "more likely to easily or more effectively climb up the social ladder on the job market."
"It's just your mental health that may suffer," she continued.
Nevertheless, she suggested that the cure may come from within: "Avoid comparing yourself to others, period - and make your own previous successes the thing to beat."
