Why Anxiety is at an All-Time High: Sociocultural, Psychological, and Lifestyle Factors

“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” — Arthur Somers Roche

The recent decades have witnessed an unprecedented increase in anxiety disorders globally, making anxiety one of the most prevalent mental health issues (World Health Organization, 2017). In fact, reports suggest that the level of anxiety is at an all-time high in the 21st century, raising critical concerns regarding mental health and wellness. Factors that have contributed to this surge in anxiety disorders include a combination of sociocultural, psychological, and lifestyle influences.

Sociocultural Factors

The Role of Technological Advances

The advent of the digital era has brought about a significant transformation in our lifestyles. With the rise of social media, individuals are constantly exposed to a deluge of information and societal pressures (Twenge, 2017). This heightened exposure can generate a sense of fear and apprehension as individuals compare themselves with others, leading to increased anxiety levels (Fardouly et al., 2015). Additionally, the prevalence of cyberbullying has been linked with higher rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents (Selkie et al., 2016).

Societal Expectations and Pressures

Societal expectations and pressure can also exacerbate anxiety levels. The contemporary emphasis on success and achievement often places individuals under considerable stress, causing an increase in anxiety disorders (Sund et al., 2011). The constant pursuit of perfection, fueled by societal pressures, can result in chronic stress and ultimately trigger anxiety disorders (Curran & Hill, 2019).

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” — Charles Spurgeon

Psychological Factors

Trauma and Life Stressors

Evidence suggests a strong link between traumatic experiences and anxiety disorders (Kessler et al., 2012). Exposure to distressing events such as abuse, neglect, or the death of a loved one can provoke intense fear and anxiety. Moreover, life stressors such as financial difficulties or relationship problems can increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder (Chisholm et al., 2016).

Modern Lifestyle Factors

Sleep Deprivation

The modern world, with its 24/7 culture, has brought about altered sleep patterns for many. Sleep deprivation is recognized to have profound effects on mental health. A lack of sleep can amplify the brain’s anticipatory reactions, raising anxiety levels (Goldstein & Walker, 2014).

Diet and Nutrition

Modern diets often lack essential nutrients, with an over-reliance on processed foods. Some studies suggest a correlation between such diets and mental health disorders. Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field that examines the link between dietary patterns and mental health (Jacka et al., 2017).

Genetic Predisposition

Genetic predisposition is another factor contributing to the rise in anxiety disorders. Studies indicate that individuals with a family history of anxiety are more likely to develop anxiety disorders (Smoller, 2016). Thus, the rise in anxiety might also reflect an increase in our understanding and identification of genetic markers for mental health disorders.

Chronic anxiety can be a debilitating condition that significantly interferes with everyday functioning and life satisfaction. The current surge in anxiety disorders is multifactorial, stemming from various sociocultural, psychological and lifestyle factors that all contribute to the high levels of anxiety experienced today. A multi-dimensional approach that integrates these factors is essential to provide effective preventive and therapeutic strategies to counter this trend.

References

Chisholm, D., Sweeny, K., Sheehan, P., Rasmussen, B., Smit, F., Cuijpers, P., & Saxena, S. (2016). Scaling-up treatment of depression and anxiety: a global return on investment analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(5), 415–424.

Curran, T., & Hill, A. P. (2019). Perfectionism is increasing over time: A meta-analysis of birth cohort differences from 1989 to 2016. Psychological Bulletin, 145(4), 410–429.

Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38–45.

Goldstein, A. N., & Walker, M. P. (2014). The role of sleep in emotional brain function. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 10, 679–708.

Jacka, F. N., O’Neil, A., Opie, R., Itsiopoulos, C., Cotton, S., Mohebbi, M., Castle, D., Dash, S., Mihalopoulos, C., Chatterton, M. L., Brazionis, L., Dean, O. M., Hodge, A. M., & Berk, M. (2017). A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial). BMC Medicine, 15(1), 1–13.

Kessler, R. C., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alonso, J., Chatterji, S., Lee, S., Ormel, J., Ustun, T. B., & Wang, P. S. (2012). The global burden of mental disorders: An update from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 18(1), 23–33.

Selkie, E. M., Fales, J. L., & Moreno, M. A. (2016). Cyberbullying prevalence among US middle and high school–aged adolescents: A systematic review and quality assessment. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58(2), 125–133.

Smoller, J. W. (2016). The genetics of stress-related disorders: PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology, 41(1), 297–319.

Sund, A. M., Larsson, B., & Wichstrøm, L. (2011). Role of physical and sedentary activities in the development of depressive symptoms in early adolescence. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 46, 431–441.

Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why today’s super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy — and completely unprepared for adulthood — and what that means for the rest of us. Simon and Schuster.

World Health Organization. (2017). Depression and other common mental disorders: global health estimates (No. WHO/MSD/MER/2017.2). World Health Organization.