Running head: DEPRESSION DIFFERENCES IN EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

Depression Differences in Europe & North America Mitchell Wilson

DEPRESSION DIFFERENCES IN EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

Abstract I wish to investigate any differences in depression that could possibly be related to cultural differences between Europe and North America. There are several key differences between our cultures, like education and eating habits, that would have some effect on the depression in that region. I will look at several resources that show some of the differences in culture and how these could affect depression. I will also conclude that these differences can be used as a learning tool for the other cultures that could show definitively that a certain habit or lifestyle can increase the risk of depression.

DEPRESSION DIFFERENCES IN EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

Depression Differences in Europe & North America Depression is a psychopathological disorder that occurs when a person feels down in the dumps, unemotional towards things in life, and sometimes turns up suicidal. According to Yeung and others, dysthymia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar depression are the three most prevalent depression diagnosis listed in the DSM-IV-TR (2007). Depression can be caused by many factors including biological, behavioral, social, and cultural. In this report, I will cover cultural influences that can increase or decrease depression. Specifically, I will be comparing Europe and North America. Their cultures are different and each has their own benefits and downfalls. First, I want to compare two different components in these cultures. The first one is the difference in education systems, specifically undergraduate. I believe that there is a completely different curriculum between North American nations (specifically the United States) and certain Western European nations. I believe that the more strict education our youth has, the more likely they will be motivated and educated enough to lessen the chance of depression. The second difference is eating habits: specifically, eating habits that cause obesity. Obesity can be a huge health risk and can be the cause of social problems as well. These stresses can escalate the possibility of developing depression issues. I will show that there are differences in obesity rates between the two different cultures and how this can affect depression. Depressive disorders in both North America & Europe can be common. In Western Europe, for example, around 9% of the population is affected by depressive disorders (Dowrick, 2011). Out of the many influences that can spur on a depressive disorder, one cultsural influence can be the education system and how well it works in a specific country. Personally I have know

DEPRESSION DIFFERENCES IN EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

people that went through the education system of high school in Germany for example and their level of teaching is at a further level that it is in the United States. They seem to set their students at a higher level. Having a higher level of education with a greater emphasis on completion and doing your best can help give someone the motivation to continue doing great things and not slip into a depression. Of course it still happens, but having a higher standard for education will certainly affect the outcome. One of the most important differences between North American and European cultures is the obesity rate. According to Preston and Stokes, the United States has the highest prevalence of obesity and one of the lowest life expectancies among high-income countries (2011). This is troubling, because in the United States not having high life expectancy or having to deal with the stresses involved with being overweight can stir up the possibility of depression. To be overweight can cause the person to want to stay indoors more and continue with the bad eating habits to make the situation worse. If you dont eat right, the body doesnt feel right either. You sometimes will get that yucky feeling when you eat something that is really not good for you. The opposite happens when you eat healthy. With the combination of your bodys status along with possible decreased social interaction, health issues, and not feeling like you are normal can all be influences for depression. The United States also has the longest average duration of depressive moods. In a study done by Furukawa and others showed that the average duration for a depressive mood in the U.S. was 25 months whereas for Europe it was only 10 months (2005). This is another indicator that there is some difference between the two regions: specifically cultural differences.

DEPRESSION DIFFERENCES IN EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

In conclusion, depression can be a serious disorder that needs careful consideration. And the public should realize that some things which are culturally the norm maybe are not the best for our psychological well being. However, as Dr. Grohol states, depression is like the common cold of mental disorders most people will be affected by depression in their lives either directly or indirectly, through a friend or family member (2012). So whereas depression may be common to experience once in your life, there may be nothing you can do to prevent it from happening. The key being that the person or his/her family must be present enough to realize that they are affected by depression and get the proper psychological care.

DEPRESSION DIFFERENCES IN EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA

References
Dowrick, C., Shiels, C. C., Page, H. H., Ayuso-Mateos, J. J., Casey, P. P., Dalgard, O. O., & ... Whitehead, M. M. (2011). Predicting long-term recovery from depression in community settings in Western Europe: evidence from ODIN. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 46(2), 119-126. doi:10.1007/s00127-009-0179-1 Furukawa, T. A., Streiner, D. L., Azuma, H. H., Higuchi, T. T., Kamijima, K. K., Kanba, S. S., & ... Miura, S. S. (2005). Cross-cultural equivalence in depression assessment: JapanEuropeNorth American study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 112(4), 279-285. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00587.x Grohol, John M. (2012). Depression. http://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression/ Preston, S. H., & Stokes, A. (2011). Contribution of Obesity to International Differences in Life Expectancy. American Journal Of Public Health, 101(11), 2137-2143. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300219 Yeung, A., Overstreet, K. M., & Albert, E. V. (2007). Current practices in depression care. Journal Of Continuing Education In The Health Professions, 279-17. doi:10.1002/chp.130