Although there are a number of causes of anxiety, such as genetics, illness, trauma and medication, which can lead to depression, research suggests that the reason more teenagers are experiencing anxiety-linked depression is due to perceptions about lifestyle and lifestyle choices. Contributing lifestyle factors include:
Desire for beauty
All forms of media express the message that beauty is what leads to acceptance, friendships, love and fame. As teenagers develop, they are susceptible to these media messages and become self-critical and sensitive to the responses of others about their appearance. At first this may present as feelings of anxiety for acceptance, but the constant negative self-criticism and feelings of inadequacy or of being deprived of beauty in comparison to a peer may lead to deeper feelings of rejection. These negative depressive feelings and self-talk may cause irritability, withdrawal, tiredness, loss of hope, and a sense that life is not worth living.
Expectation of above average achievement or fame
With all the reality television shows, games and focus on intellectual brilliance, some teenagers place pressure on themselves to achieve. Many of the media messages are subliminal in expressing that fame is what leads to happiness, and that media provides this.
Family members may have high expectation of their performance too, in academics and sports. A teen may not meet peer performance and the stress of trying or feeling they have to meet an expectation can cause stress and anxiety. As these feeling prolong, negative feelings continue until the teen may experience states of depression and gloom that affects their behaviours.
Lifestyle choices
Teenagers often put a lot of pressure on each other to take part in certain activities or to behave a certain way. Non-conformance to these pressures can result in rejection by peers. The pressure alone may cause anxiety and fear of non-acceptance, but the rejection and isolation especially at school can cause teenagers to feel depressed.
Value of money
Parents of teenagers come from different social status and as teenagers make friends, they may feel judged by their peers or may not have the clothing brands and technology that their friends’ parents can afford. Teens may feel deprived and feel angry at their parents for their experience. Placing a high value on money, and not feeling equal with peers can cause teens also to feel that life is not worth living because they cannot afford the same experiences as their friends.
Use of technology
Teenagers nowadays place a lot of value on the technology that they have access to and can use, such as showing off their blackberry or latest iPod. Not having these items because parents cannot afford to provide these can result in teens feeling “out of the social communications loop”. This can generate feelings of non-acceptance, anxiety and depression. Other teenagers may use gaming as an escape, but excessive gaming can result in lack of sleep, difficulty to concentrate, and also result in depressive mood swings.
These factors may lead teenagers to experience symptoms of depression that include defiant behaviour, unusual beliefs, weight changes, lack of sleep or excessive sleeping, tiredness, worthless and hopelessness.
