Stress in Teenagers

In the article, " Today's Teens More Anxious, Depressed and Paranoid Than Ever," they address that there has been an increase in psychological issues in teenagers since the 1930s. They have stated that eight-five [which I assume is meant to be eighty-five percent] of college students today 

fall above the average mental illness "score" of students in the 1930s and 1940s. They address that the reason for this is somewhat unknown. However, that attribute this increase in stress and psychological issues to a change in societal culture. They claim that a more materialistic culture is to blame for the increase in stress.
They say that teens today feel significantly more isolated, misunderstood, nd emotionally sensitive and or unstable. They also say that teens are more narcissistic, have low self-esteem, low self-control and express feeling of worry, sadness, and dissatisfaction with life. They blame this on a more materialistic culture as well. They also say that the lack of a good role model is also to blame. They say that children who grow up with parents who are stressed and exhibit that to their children, their children will also exhibit the same behavior due to the lack of a strong role model. This change in societal culture to a more materialistic culture is the result of a consumer culture where all of these companies are marketing their products to be bought. 
They say that future generations will be more focused on work, success, and materialistic gains. They will also end up needing more mental health services, and it is unknown if these numbers will still increase, or if they have topped out.
I agree that there is somewhat a problem with teens who become plagued with psychological problems such as being more narcissistic. However, if future generations become more work oriented, focused on success, then is that really a bad thing? I understand we sacrifice relationships and other stuff, but if we, a society become more productive, more focused on work and success at work, then is that a problem. Yes we will have more people experience psychological problems, but if we are collectively more successful and work oriented, is that bad. Image a society that is more work oriented, more focused on the end result and success. That could actually be beneficial for society on a greater scheme. We could solve more problems, and get more work done this when than we did before. Is that not something worthwhile? Or are we still going to say that mental health should still be a priority even when productivity and success increase and become our main focus?
A look at mental health statistics.

Comments

  1. SonicpenguinJune 4, 2017 at 7:24 PM

    The argument you make, that collective productivity is more important than individual lack of stress, is very interesting to me. It makes me wonder, though: does stress really increase people's work-orientedness and efficiency? The long list of stress-and-anxiety-related disorders, and their strong negative effects, seem to say otherwise. And even if stress does push us to become successful, might we be unable to enjoy the fruits of our labor due to our overwhelming anxiety?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Representation 1

In the documentary Miss Representation , they talk about how in the United States women are miss represented and under represented in everything from politics to science fields. It describes how there is a difference between the things men do and the things women do. It brought up a bunch of statistics saying that more than fifty percent of the United States population is female, but then it brought up how in these jobs they are not even close to a majority. For example Congress, only seventeen percent of Congress is female. They then went to say that the root cause of this is the media. The way the media portrays women gives us the idea that this is the way life needs to be. Where females are under represented and forced to do only certain jobs. It also briefly touched on the subject where it also makes men feel that they have to be masculine, and it defines what is and what is not masculine. I agree that women are still at a disadvantage when it comes to men. They are miss represen...
Read more

Materialism and Psychological Problems

A more materialistic culture is to blame as to why there have been an increase in psychological problems in teens since the 1930s. This idea is presented in the article, " Today's Teens More Anxious, Depressed and Paranoid Than Ever." They state that teenagers are experiencing more psychological problems and stress than students in the 1930s and 1940s. They state that the root cause for these issues is that the United States experienced a societal change. Our society became more focused on actual tangible objects. We became a materialistic culture. They say that has also impacted our healthy role models, to the point where we have none. They say that we have no healthy role models for our kids, and as a result our kids have psychological issues and behavioral issues and that will extend to the next generation. It is a vicious cycle. They blame our consumer culture for a our materialistic values which has led to the psychological problems teens face today.  I can underst...
Read more

Verizon's Marketing Strategy

For the past few weeks I have been analyzing Verizon Wireless. I have been analyzing their marketing strategy and their techniques used to convey their message. They are trying to target your average white, working middle class, family of four. They are trying to convey the idea that your family life could be better, and more connected than you already are. They are saying that your family life could be better. They are trying to make you believe that in order for your family life to be good, Verizon needs to be a part of that life. They are trying to make Verizon an essential part of your family life. They are trying to convey this idea by focusing on their unlimited plan. They are trying to convey that they are better by saying that other companies have failed you, and that Verizon will deliver on everything you want. They are trying to make the argument that they are better than everyone else. They however are also making you make the assumption that bigger is better, that being the...
Read more