Fresh research is shedding light on the surprising causes behind higher rates of depression among vegans—a phenomenon with ripples beyond just dietary choices, impacting careers, relationships, and the broader landscape of modern identity. While past debates have focused on nutrition and social pressures, new evidence points to deeper psychological roots that are relevant not just to plant-based eaters, but to anyone who closely identifies with rigid belief systems.
The recent discussion, sparked by a widely shared article in VegOut Magazine, captured the attention of global readers—including many who weren’t vegan at all. The piece, authored by a psychological observer based in Singapore, delved into research showing elevated rates of depression and anxiety in vegan populations. What emerged, however, was a hidden pattern that extended well beyond diet: a modern epidemic of “identity fusion,” where personal sense of self merges completely with group ideology, making beliefs feel inseparable from one’s core identity (VegOut Magazine).
This pattern is far from limited to veganism. Responses to the article poured in from those deeply invested in CrossFit, minimalism, parenthood philosophies, political parties, and various professions. People described feeling trapped by their chosen identities—so much so that admitting to any struggle risked losing their sense of purpose, community, and self-worth. As one message put it, “I can’t admit to my gym friends that I’m burned out because being ‘the fitness guy’ is all I have left.”
The backdrop to this growing problem is the collapse of traditional frameworks—such as religion, extended family, and stable communities—once central to Thai and global societies. As these sources of meaning erode, individuals have turned to ideologies, lifestyles, and labels to fill the void. But clinging too tightly to these new group identities, research warns, can lead to psychological rigidity and a cycle of anxiety, stress, and depression.
Recent academic research supports these claims. A 2023 study published in Health Science Reports explores the role of identity and personality in the mental and sleep health of vegans and vegetarians (PMC10444972). The researchers found not only a link between higher rates of depression and certain personality traits (notably, high empathy and low extraversion), but also that people who saw their dietary choices as central to their identity—what psychologists call “dietarian centrality”—were more likely to experience stress and sleep disturbances. The more strictly someone identified with their diet, the more vulnerable they became if reality forced them to compromise or change.
The link to mental health is clear: when people define who they are by what they eat, believe, or do, even small deviations create a sense of personal failure or betrayal. This phenomenon mirrors a broader concept in psychology called identity fusion—described on Wikipedia as a “visceral sense of oneness with the group” with highly permeable boundaries between personal and group selves (Wikipedia). Highly fused individuals defend their group membership fiercely, and any perceived failure can threaten their entire sense of self.
The VegOut article illustrates these dynamics with first-person stories: the minimalist “drowning in anxiety” over owning too many things, the corporate escapee feeling “trapped” in the new entrepreneurial identity, the vegan unable to adjust diet despite health issues. Each example underscores a subtle, destructive mechanism. The author observes, “We’ve become a society of ideological orphans, desperately adopting belief systems as surrogate families, then defending them with the fierce loyalty of abandoned children.”
Mental health data supports the distress felt by vegans and vegetarians compared to omnivores. For instance, a large Brazilian study found that vegetarians experience depressive episodes twice as frequently as meat-eaters, even after accounting for physical health and social factors (NYP Post). Other international reviews echo these findings—with some suggesting that increased empathy among plant-based eaters might partly explain greater vulnerability to mood disorders (Systematic Review, Nutr Bull 2022). Yet, as shown in the Health Science Reports study, it’s the combination of empathy and “central dietary identity” that seems to amplify risk.
The relevance for Thai readers is profound. Thailand’s cultural fabric is changing rapidly—in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other major cities, young adults and professionals increasingly experiment with new dietary, fitness, and ethical lifestyles. At the same time, family structures and traditional belief systems are facing new challenges, leaving many to search for identity in unfamiliar ways. Buddhist philosophy, with its emphasis on non-attachment to self and roles, offers an interesting counterpoint: it encourages identifying with values lightly, not clinging to temporary labels or status.
Experts underscore the importance of what the VegOut writer calls “fluid integrity”—the ability to hold convictions and values deeply, but also flexibly, such that one can adjust beliefs or practices in response to new information or changing circumstances. This isn’t about abandoning principles, but recognizing that who we are is bigger than any single dietary choice or community role. “Every identity you cling to is provisional,” the author advises. In practice, this means shifting from statements like “I am vegan” to “I currently choose plant-based eating because it aligns with my values.” This frame provides psychological safety to adapt when necessary, reducing shame, isolation, and rigidity.
The consequences of rigid identity fusion go beyond individual mental health. The article points out that in modern political, environmental, and workplace debates, people become trapped defending their position rather than seeking what actually works. This can paralyze collective problem-solving—something that resonates in Thai society, where open dialogue and compromise are traditional virtues, but are now often tested by social polarization.
The risks are not confined to diet. The Health Science Reports study speculates that the pattern applies to any lifestyle or ideology that the individual takes as central to their identity—be it fitness, work, spirituality, or parenting. For instance, a “productivity guru” may fall into crisis if unable to maintain the high standards required by their personal brand, while a spiritual teacher may suppress depression to avoid betraying the community’s expectations of serenity.
Thai mental health professionals echo these insights. According to a clinical psychologist at a leading Bangkok private hospital, “We often see burnout and depression not because someone’s values were wrong to begin with, but because the value was held so tightly that it left no room for normal human change and self-care.” This professional points out that in Thai workplaces, where group harmony and appearances are highly valued, people can feel especially unable to admit when their identity—as a diligent employee, dutiful child, or ideal parent—no longer fits what their wellbeing requires.
Historical context deepens the picture. Traditionally, Thai society encouraged individuals to view selfhood as fluid and roles as impermanent—mirrored in the Buddhist teaching of “anatta” (not-self). Elders taught that what matters most is not consistency to a rigid identity, but a compassionate responsiveness to the needs of the present moment. In this light, the new research both affirms ancient wisdom and applies it in our era of dizzying change.
As digital communities and ideologies claim ever-larger portions of people’s lives, the stakes are growing. The VegOut article warns that “the space between who we were and who we’re becoming” is not empty anxiety, but “where growth happens.” Experts urge people to embrace “fluid integrity” as a radical act—both to protect personal mental health and to revive collective wisdom.
Implications for the future are far-reaching. If modern Thais, especially youth and urban professionals, can learn to hold their chosen identities lightly, they may be better equipped to adapt amid social, dietary, and technological transformation. Otherwise, the trap of rigid labels and “ideological orphanhood” could heighten stress, fracture relationships, and deepen crises in both mental health and public discourse.
Practically, Thai readers—whether vegans, parents, fitness enthusiasts, or professionals—can support their own wellbeing by:
- Asking if a given label or community serves their growth and happiness, rather than restricting needed change
- Allowing room for evolution, mistakes, and honest reflection
- Seeking other sources of meaning and connection, such as family, tradition, or spirituality
- Reaching out for professional help when identity conflicts or depression threaten quality of life
- Remembering that everyone is more than the sum of their dietary or ideological choices
The call to action is clear: in an era marked by rapid change, the healthiest path is one of “fluid integrity,” not rigid self-categorization. This shift promises not only relief from depression among vegans and other tightly identified groups, but also greater creativity, resilience, and genuine connection across all of Thai society.
References:
- “I studied why vegans have higher rates of depression…” VegOut Magazine
- “Personality, dietary identity, mental and sleep health in vegans and vegetarians” Health Science Reports
- “Vegans and vegetarians depressed twice as often as meat-eaters: new study” New York Post
- “Identity fusion” Wikipedia