Depression as a Common Phenomenon - Term Paper Example

Abstract

Depression cases have been common in the modern days, which have been linked to modern developments in science, technology, and industry. Before the developments in the mentioned areas, depression was not as common as in the current days. The study aimed at exploring factors that might be contributing to the increase in depression cases. A systematic qualitative review was applied to identify peer-reviewed articles that could answer the research questions. In this case, research questions focused on the selected factors, including lifestyle changes, socioeconomic factors, environmental factors, social environment, and technology. The findings showed that all the factors mentioned above have contributed to the increase in depression cases. Also, studies showed that depression cases are likely to continue rising due to the stability in the causative factors. However, further research should be done to come up with adequate information concerning the research topic and questions. In conclusion, depression cases have been on the increase due to major changes that have taken place in recent years, such as the discovery of digital media technology.

Introduction

The evolution into the modern era has been accompanied by multiple changes, both positive and negative. The changes are associated with the enormous development in science, technology, and industry. The increased burden of diseases is as well linked to the path followed towards modernization. For example, diseases such as hypertension and diabetes have been linked with environmental and dietary changes. Unlike in pre-modern society, human beings in the current world are exposed to different environmental factors that can affect their health. Lifestyle changes have also occurred in modern days, leading to an increased susceptibility to illnesses.

Depression is one of the diseases that has become common in modern days. A study that was done by Lim et al. (2018) showed that the prevalence of depression among adults between 1994 and 2014 was 10.8%. Another study that was conducted by Weinberger et al. (2018) confirmed that depression cases were on the rise between 2005 and 2015. It also showed that the rate of increase in depression was high among youths. However, there is limited information regarding the primary causes of the increase in depression in modern days. As such, this study will focus on determining why depression is common in modern days. The study will answer the following questions;

• How do lifestyle changes in modern days put individuals are at risk of depression?
• How do socioeconomic factors contribute to depression in modern days?
• How do environmental changes increase the risk of depression in modern days?
• How does the social environment increase the risk of depression in modern days?
• How does modern technology increase the risk of depression?

Methodology

The study will involve a systematic qualitative analysis of articles, whereby articles that contain information regarding the research questions listed above will be considered. In this case, I will conduct a literature search using relevant databases such as PubMed, JAMA Psychiatry, and Google Scholar. Such databases will give rise to peer-reviewed articles that can answer the research questions.

Literature Search Findings

A study done by Rantala, Luoto, Krams, & Karlsson (2018) modern lifestyle contributes to depression. First of all, people in modern society practice sedentary lifestyles, whereby they regularly perform physical exercises. The major cause of inactivity is the increase in jobs that do not require frequent movements. For example, workers who occupy secretarial positions find less time to exercise their bodies since they can spend the whole day seated. According to the study, spending much time in the same position leads to loneliness, which is a major risk of depression. Jat & Washdev (2020) also did research that showed a relationship between obesity and depression. Obesity has been on the increase in modern days due to an unhealthy diet and infrequent exercising. The study findings showed that obese people have a 55% increased risk for depression than those who recorded normal weight.

The increase in depression cases in the modern world is also associated with socioeconomic factors surrounding victims. The aspects include education, occupation, and income. The study found out that individuals who were stable in two or more of the mentioned aspects were likely to be depression- free. In contrast, those who lacked two or all of the mentioned aspects were likely to suffer from depression due to frequent worries on how to meet their needs. In the modern world, possession of income, occupation, and education makes an individual be of high rank, among others, unlike in the past, when those aspects were not highly rated. Therefore, a lack of those aspects in the current world is likely to cause depression than in the past.

Van den Bosch & Meyer-Lindenberg (2019) also linked modern environmental exposures with depression. Modern industrialization has led to various environmental changes due to the construction of factories and other firms that produced biochemicals to the environment. Exposure to some of the released chemicals can affect the human brain, which contains hormones that control people’s’ emotions. In this case, the inhaled environmental chemicals enter the brain, affecting the usual transmission of signals. As a result, the release of serotonin hormone, which controls emotions, is delayed leading to depression. Since environmental pollution continues to increase, there is a possibility of an increase in depression cases among individuals who get exposed to the chemicals.

In another study, Fauziyyah & Ampuni (2018) explore how the modern social environment contributes to the rise in depression cases. The study was carried out in a college where students from different places converged to study. In this case, the study assessed how the social environment resulted in an increase in depression cases. According to the findings, students were likely to develop depression due to academic competition, isolation from others, and lack of social skills. Modern social environments, such as colleges, consisting of individuals from different backgrounds and ethnic groups, unlike in the past, where most interactions involved people with multiple similarities. As such, modern environments, which are highly diversified, have increased chances of causing depression.

Lastly, depression cases in modern days have increased due to new discoveries in technology (Hoge, Bickham, & Cantor, 2017). Digital media technology, which comprises of social media, has played a great role in the increase in depression cases, especially among children and youths. Hoge et al. (2013) claim that individuals who spend most of their time on social media platforms promote social isolation due to limited time to interact with others. Also, individuals who use social media platforms frequently may experience cyberbullying, which can lead to depression or even suicide.

Discussion of Literature Search Findings

Depression is among the most diagnosed mental illnesses in modern society such that cases tend to increase in numbers each year. Comparing depression cases in modern days with those in the past reveals a broad gap. According to the discussed findings, changes in modern society have contributed highly to the rise in depression cases. For instance, digital media technology has rapidly developed such that individuals can perform essential activities such as purchasing home items through online platforms. Although it promotes efficiency, most people end up confining themselves in their residential places, leading to minimal interaction. As a result, they may develop depression, which further affects their normal lives.

Most of the modern changes that increase the risk of depression cannot be avoided or eliminated easily. For example, digital media technology, environmental factors, socioeconomic factors, and social environments need advanced interventions to be changed. Therefore, there is a possibility of a continuous increase in depression cases unless the issue is addressed at an individual level and not a community problem. Although the articles from the literature search provided all the required answers to the research questions, some of them were shallow such that they could not provide broad information on how modern activities lead to an increase in depression cases. Following the analysis of the literature search findings, I recommend that further study should be done to come up with comprehensive explanations on how the discussed factors cause an increase in depression. Also, future studies should cover a broad area and also apply quantitative and qualitative methods to produce reliable findings. In this case, my study could be helpful in future studies as it contains adequate findings from peer-reviewed sources that can act as a basis.

Summary and Conclusion

The modern society has reported a continuous increase in depression cases. Factors such as technology, socioeconomic factors, social environments, environmental factors, and lifestyle changes contribute highly to the increase in depression cases. Most of the mentioned factors result due to the continuous developments that had been discovered in the 20th and 21st centuries. In the past, depression cases were low since factors such as technology, socioeconomic factors, and environmental factors were not affected. As such, the discovery of ways that trigger these factors has led to an increase in depression cases. Still, the articles collected during the literature search did not bear conclusive information regarding the reasons causing an increase in depression cases. In this regard, further research need to be done to come up with adequate information concerning the research topic and questions. In conclusion, depression cases have been on the increase due to major changes that have taken place in recent years, such as the discovery of digital media technology.