Why are anxiety and depression on the increase?

For one thing, it seems unlikely that the increase in anxiety and depression is based on purely genetic factors, because it has happened so quickly. It would take a number of generations to change a characteristic in the general population. If this is true, what environmental factors might be contributing to this wave of anxiety and depression? Jean Twenge has published an interesting article pointing to the role of declining social connectedness and increases in environmental dangers in anxiety and depression. The decline in social connectedness can be seen, for example, in the increasing divorce rate over decades and the increasing number of people who live alone. Do we trust people, organizations, and institutions as much as we did in previous decades? An example of environmental dangers can be reflected in violent crime and other threats. Interestingly, as Twenge points out economic factors don’t seem to be important in anxiety and depression. This echoes the results of studies that suggest that happiness is not affected by economics, once one is out of poverty, or if one is extremely rich.

See the following post for more about anxiety and depression.