The analysis of the causes of depression and anxiety among young people and the corresponding solution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61173/gbfm1380Keywords:
depression, anxiety, socio-cultural perspective, initiativeAbstract
While the past few decades have witnessed modernization, they have also seen an epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. From the sociocultural perspective, the reasons include a change in social values from singular values to pluralism and a shift in social culture from collectivism to individualism, so young people’s self-identity is threatened, and they tend to see others as competitors rather than teammates. Besides, social stigma and disdain for mental illness exacerbate mental problems among young people. This paper suggests that developing quality education, strengthening interpersonal relationships, and de-stigmatizing mental illness may be the solution.
References
[1] . Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A development theory from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469-480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003- 066X.55.5.469
[2] . Bor, W., Dean, A. J., Najman, J., & Hayatbakhsh, R. (2014). Are child and adolescent mental health problems increasing in the 21st century? A systematic review. Australian & New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 48(7), 606-616.
[3] . Burcusa, S. L., & Iacono, W. G. (2007). Risk for recurrence in depression. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(8), 959–985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2007.02.005
[4] . Corrigan, P. W. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist, 59(7), 614–625. https://doi. org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.7.614
[5] . Depressive disorder (depression). (n.d.). Retrieved 9 March 2024, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ depression
[6] . Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. Norton.
[7] . Greenfield, P. M. (2009). Linking social change and Dean&Francis developmental change: Shifting pathways of human development. Developmental Psychology, 45(2), 401-418. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014726
[8] . Greenfield, P. M. (2016). Social change, cultural evolution, and human development. Current Opinion in Psychology, 8, 84- 92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.10.012
[9] . Greenhaus, J. H., & Allen, T. D. (2011). Work-family balance: A review and extension of the literature. In J. C. Quick & L. E. Tetrick (Eds.), Handbook of Occupational Health Psychology (pp. 165-183). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10474-008
[10] . Hamamura, T. (2012). Are Cultures Becoming Individualistic? A Cross-Temporal Comparison of Individualism–Collectivism in the United States and Japan. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16(1), 3–24. https:// doi.org/10.1177/1088868311411587
[11] . Hamamura, T. (2012). Are cultures becoming individualistic? A cross-temporal comparison of individualismcollectivism in the United States and Japan.
[12] . Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16(1), 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868311411587 Inglehart, R., & Welzel, C. (2010). Changing mass priorities: The link between modernization and democracy. Perspectives on Politics, 8(2), 551-567. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1537592710001258
[13] . Kajanus, A. (2019). Mutualistic vs. Zero‐sum modes of competition – a comparative study of children’s competitive motivations and behaviours in China. https://www. berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/saas/27/1/soca12578.xml
[14] . Kapfhammer, H.-P. (2006). Somatic symptoms in depression. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 8(2), 227–239. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2006.8.2/hpkapfhammer
[15] . Lee, M. Y. (2006). The utility of cultural competence in social work practice: Across-cultural perspective. Social Work, 51(3), 269-278. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/51.3.269
[16] . Lee, R. L. M. (2006). Reinventing Modernity: Reflexive Modernization vs Liquid
[17] . Modernity vs Multiple Modernities. European Journal of Social Theory, 9(3), 355–368. https://doi. org/10.1177/1368431006065717
[18] . Leibbrandt, A., Gneezy, U., & List, J. A. (2013). Rise and fall of competitiveness in individualistic and collectivistic societies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(23), 9305-9308
[19] . Major depression can be prevented. (n.d.). Retrieved 13 April 2024, from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-12428-003 Matsumoto, D., Kudoh, T., & Takeuchi, S. (1996). Changing Patterns of Individualism and Collectivism in the United States and Japan. Culture & Psychology. https://doi. org/10.1177/1354067X9621005
[20] . McCarthy, P. A., & Morina, N. (2020). Exploring the association of social comparison with depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 27(5), 640–671. https://doi.org/10.1002/ cpp.2452
[21] . McChesney, D., & Doucet, M. (2018). Culpable Ignorance and Mental Disorders. Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, 14, 227.
[22] . Milkie, M. A., & Peltola, P. (1999). Playing all the roles: Gender and the work-family balancing act. Journal of Marriage and Family, 61(2), 476-490. https://doi.org/10.2307/353763
[23] . Ng, C. H. (1997). The stigma of mental illness in Asian cultures. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 31(3), 382-390. https://doi.org/10.3109/00048679709073848
[24] . Personal values in mental disorders: An exploratory analysis | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. (n.d.). Retrieved 6 March 2024, from https://www.nature.com/ articles/s41599-021-00780-3
[25] . Pescosolido, B. A. (2013). The Public Stigma of Mental Illness: What Do We Think; What Do We Know; What Can We Prove? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 54(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146512471197
[26] . Peterson, J. S. (2007). The Essential Guide to Talking with Gifted Teens: Ready-to-Use Discussions About Identity, Stress, Relationships, and More. Free Spirit Publishing.
[27] . Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.
[28] . Rios, J. M. (2015). Community development and local social capital. Social Indicators Research, 122(3), 771-787. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0713-y
[29] . Sartorius, N. (2007). Stigma and mental health. The Lancet, 370(9590), 810-811.
[30] . Schwartz, S. J., Unger, J. B., Zamboanga, B. L., & Szapocznik, J. (2010). Rethinking the concept of acculturation: Implications for theory and research. American Psychologist, 65(4), 237-251. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019330
[31] . Schwartz, S. J., Zamboanga, B. L., Weisskirch, R. S., & Rodriguez, L. (2009). The relationships of personal and cultural identity to adaptive and maladaptive psychosocial functioning in emerging adults. Journal of Social Issues, 65(2), 335-354. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2009.01600.x
[32] . Triandis, H. C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Westview Press.
[33] . Twenge, J. M., Campbell, W. K., & Freeman, E. C. (2019). Generational differences in American students’ reasons for going to college, 1971–2014: The rise of extrinsic motives. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 38(2), 147-169. https://doi. org/10.1521/jscp.2019.38.2.147
[34] . Upreti, R. (2017). Identity Construction: An Important Issue Among Adolescents. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 22(06), 54–57. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837- 2206105457
[35] . Identity in young adulthood: Links with mental health and risky behaviour. (2015) Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 36, 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/ Dean&Francis j.appdev.2014.10.001
[36] . Peter Weinreich. (1985). Identity Exploration in Adolescence. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 1(1–2), 51–72. https://doi.org/10.1515/ IJAMH.1985.1.1-2.51
[37] . Henderson, C., & Thornicroft, G. (2009). Stigma and discrimination in mental illness: Time to Change. The Lancet, 373(9679), 1928–1930. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140- 6736(09)61046-1
[38] . Stigma, discrimination and mental illness—Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Retrieved 29 June 2024, from https://www. betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/stigmadiscriminationand-mental-illness
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 by the authors.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
