Keeping+Up+With+The+Kardashians+-+Are+Gen+Y's+Looking+for+Happiness+in+all+the+Wrong+Places?


 * Name:** Kim Gageler
 * Student Number:** n8085391
 * Tutor's Name:** Colleen Niland


 * __Who Are The Kardashians?__**

Keeping Up With The Kardashians is an American reality television series that depicts the personal lives of the Kardashian family and has skyrocketed them to fame. The series commenced in 2007 and during its first month on air became the highest rating TV series among women aged 18-34 with the first season attracting 1.6 million viewers. Viewer numbers rose to 3.2 million by the fifth series. The star of the show is Kim Kardashian who earnt her fame by starring in a sex tape leaked in 2007. She has since launched a fragrance, clothing and accessories line and has endorsed a number of brands such as QuickTrim, ShoeDazzle and bebe. Kim was the highest paid reality TV star in 2010. Most recently Kim has been the subject of much media coverage due to filing for divorce from her husband of only 72 days, Kris Humphries. Their wedding was reported to have cost $20 million dollars of which they paid little and was believed to have earnt them $17.9 million in royalties.


 * __The Mental Health of Generation Y__**

The Kardashians’ as a family epitomize consumerism and self-promotion. Traits that Generation Y’s are often portrayed as having. The question is how do these values affect the mental health of this generation and is this representation accurate. Of particular interest is the concept of “Affluenza” coined by psychologist Oliver James. Affluenza describes the placing of one’s value in money, possessions, appearance and fame. James describes affluenza as a virus that is driving the youth of developed nations toward mental illness (Fisher & Yarwood, 2009). The Kardashians and their reality TV series is representative of the types of media that today’s youth are exposed to that could be considered key vectors in the transmission of the “Affluenza virus”.


 * __What is the Literature Saying About the Mental Health of Generation Y?__**

There is no denying that mental illness in general is on the rise throughout Australia with 1 in 4 Australians aged 16-24 having suffered a mental disorder in the last 12 months (ABS, 2007) and 14% of children aged 4-17 already experiencing some degree of mental illness. For most people symptoms start in childhood with two thirds of adult sufferers having experienced symptoms before turning 21 (Department of Health and Ageing, 2009).

Prevalence rates are highest during early adulthood, the time when people are establishing independence, careers and families (DHA, 2009) with anxiety and depression being most common. Evidence suggests that this problem is not only on the rise amongst Australian youth but among the youth of developed nations globally (Li, McMurray & Stanley, 2008).

So what then makes us vulnerable to mental illness and is Generation Y more susceptible than previous generations? There is extensive data to suggest that poverty, socioeconomic disadvantage and low levels of educational status correlate strongly with mental illness, and the expectation has always been that as economies improve health should improve however this has not been the case with mental illness. Hanlon & Carlisle explain that levels of well-being are static or declining despite large rises in average incomes amongst the middle class. Some of the determinants affecting the well-being of Gen-Y’s include a 24hr 7 day a week economy, globalization and commercialism (Li, McMurray and Stanley, 2008). Many of these determinants are new to this generation and will potentially increase for generations to come.

The rapid growth of information technology for Generation Y has facilitated communication, education, and social interaction and has increased access to information for the whole of society. This access has the potential to reduce inequality. However, research has also shown that increased exposure to IT can negatively impact children’s development by exposing them to information lacking in meaningfulness and moral guidance. Work demands can reduce time available for families to participate in social activities within their communities. It is this social isolation that has been linked to increases in depression and anxiety. Financial security is often prioritized over strong social networks and it is these networks that have been shown to be protective against negative outcomes such as violent crime, binge drinking and loneliness (Li, McMurray & Stanley, 2008).

While data suggests that Gen Y’s do not consume to a greater extent than previous generations it does suggest that they are much more brand focused and inclined to place more value on material possessions than previous generations. It is this self-serving consumerism and drive for status that has been scrutinized (Fisher & Yarwood, 2008).

Psychologist Oliver James coined the term “Affluenza” defined as the placing of one’s value on money, possessions, appearance and fame. James describes affluenza as a virus that is driving the youth of developed nations toward mental illness at an alarming rate (Fisher & Yarwood, 2008). Previously the term affluence was reserved for the top 1% of earners in the population however more recently it has been recognized in high-achieving, hard working upper to middle income families (Koplewicz, Gurian & Williams, 2009). In some of these families materialism compromises children’s development due to overindulgence and a sense of entitlement. These children can also feel isolation from their parents and pressure to excel. Children tend to turn to their peers for support and are at very high risk of self-medicating. Studies confirm that girls in wealthy suburban communities experience depression at a rate of 22% compared with 7% in urban less affluent communities (Koplewicz, Gurian & Williams, 2009).

Evidence-based data on the link between consumerism, individualism and materialism and mental illness is difficult to obtain. The methods used to undertake studies into theses correlations invariably utilize questionnaires and interviews of participants, which can at times be unreliable. As Hanlon & Carlisle (2009) explain it is difficult to ask subjects to determine how cultural values influence their daily decisions as culture is often taken for granted during the activities of daily living and its influence is therefore often not acknowledged. Dishonesty can also be a concern when relying upon the reflections of individuals. In addition the focus groups utilized in the studies that I examined largely utilized subjects who were health professionals or in the mental health system, which could bias the results (Dotson & Hyatt, 2005).

The Australian government is acutely aware of the burden of disease caused by the rise in mental illness as it is the largest single cause of disability accounting for 24% of the burden of non-fatal disease in this country. This has a major impact on people during their prime working years and subsequently puts a great strain on the environment. The provision of mental health services alone costs the government $4.7 billion in the year 2006-2007. In addition productivity losses can range from $10-15 billion (DHA, 2009). The National Mental Health Strategy was implemented in 1992 and has undergone 4 reviews to date. It aims to diagnose mental illness early and increase awareness so that sufferers may seek help early to prevent progression of disease into adulthood.


 * __Cultural and Social Analysis__**

As the preceding data explains mental illness is on the rise in Australia and other developed nations and places a great strain on productivity and subsequently the economy. The symptoms of mental illness often develop in adolescence and early adulthood and if left untreated can progress to lifelong disease (DHA, 2009). It is for this reason that it is important to raise awareness among the general public about the early signs of mental illness and the risk factors that can make people vulnerable to disease. Much is known about physiological risk factors associated with the development of mental illness however a great deal more could be learned about the environmental and cultural precursors to disease. It is interesting to note that despite there being a strong link between low socioeconomic and educational status and mental illness there is a much greater incidence of disease in the developed world than in the developing world. Li, McMurray and Stanley (2008) suggest that this is due to an apparent happiness threshold. Where achieving financial gain above a certain level fails to provide any further protection against mental illness. Does this then suggest that once our basic needs are met the pursuit of ‘more’ may be detrimental rather than beneficial to our health? Have we as a culture become caught up with overconsumption and keeping up and lost touch with each other?

As Li, McMurray & Stanley (2008) explain, more than any previous generation, Generation Y’s are being affected by globalization, commercialism, consumerism and a 24hour seven day a week economy. The risk is that these cultural factors may lead to a generation who prioritize financial security and possessions over personal relationships which may precipitate further rises in mental illness (Fisher & Yarwood, 2008). Generation Y’s have benefited from the wealth achieved by their parents the baby boomers and have had access to greater purchasing power than generations before them however the concern is that this may have led them to prioritize the wrong things. Are they driven to consume and achieve at the expense of their health and relationships?


 * __Analysis and Reflection__**

The Kardashian family reflects all that is commercialism and overconsumption. With endorsement after endorsement displayed throughout their television series. I have selected them as an artefact as to me they epitomize the concept of “Affluenza” and the fact that they have achieved such following and fame suggests that there are a number of people in the population who also aspire to these same ideals. A culture that value brands and possessions over people and relationships will be seriously vulnerable to mental illness and dissatisfaction in my opinion. How is it that one couple can be content to spend millions of dollars on a wedding for a marriage that lasted little longer than a couple of months when there are millions of people starving globally? And how is it that our culture can be so taken with these kinds of people? Why is it that multinational companies throw millions of dollars at these people – dollars that could make massive change if contributed toward more deserving causes?

There is no doubt that those in our community who have the least are understandably vulnerable to mental illness however could there also be a whole new group of people at risk among those who have the most. As naïve and idealistic a concept as it is wouldn’t it be lovely if we all just had enough... perhaps if we focused on each other rather than ourselves mental illness would decline dramatically...


 * __References__**

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007). Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/web+pages/statistics

Department of Health and Ageing (2009). Fourth National Mental Health Plan. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/

Dotson, M. & Hyatt, E. (2005). Major influence factors in children’s consumer socialization. //Journal of Consumer Marketing,// 22(1), 35-42.

Fisher, J, & Yarwood, G. (2008). Connecting not competing with others: raising awareness of wellbeing. //Perspectives in Public Health,// 128(3), 110-111.

Goldbart, S. (1999), Issues of the ‘New Rich’. //Tikkun,// 14(2), 27-32.

Hanley, L. & Hergesheimer, J. (2006). Shopping: How it became our national disease. //New Statesman,// 135(4810), 35-38.

Hanlon, P. & Carlisle, S. (2009). Is ‘modern culture’ bad for our health and well-being? //Global Health Promotion,// 16(4), 27-34.

Koplewicz, H, Gurian, A. & Williams, K. (2009). The Era of Affluence and its Discontents. //Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology,// 48(11), 1053-1055.

Levine, M. (2007). Challenging the Culture of Affluence. //Independent School,// 67(1), 28-36.

Li, J., McMurray, A. & Stanley, F. (2008). Modernity’s paradox and the structural determinants of child health and well-being. //Health Sociology Review,// 17(1), 64-77.

Timimi, S. (2010). The McDonaldization of Childhood: Children’s Mental Health in Neo-liberal Market Cultures. //Transcultural Psychiatry,// 47, 686-706.


 * __Comment on Behind Blue Eyes__**

Thankyou for introducing me to an organisation that I had no idea even existed until reading your post. I was so impressed with the clip you used for your artefact and intend to further research the work of this particular organisation. Both the clip and your analysis highlighted the diversity of the individuals touched by mental illness in some way. I believe it would be rare to meet anybody who had not been directly or indirectly affected by these diseases. Your personal story was also touching and your interest in the subject was evident throughout the piece particularly the title you chose. I like you have enjoyed this subject immensely and feel I have gained so much from it. I just wish I had more time to read more widely!! Best of luck with the rest of your studies...


 * __Comment on ‘Are you living your life or are you living someone else’s life’__**

I found your post really interesting. I'm so interested in eating disorders as they are such complex diseases and unfortunately very refractory to treatment potentially as they are so poorly understood. In the field of dietetics I eventually hope to undertake further research in this area as my concern is that these disorders are much more prevalent than the statistics reveal due to the secrecy and shame associated with them. I also fear the incidence will increase due to societal pressures. I'm curious as to whether you came across any information as to what makes certain people vulnerable to these types of media while others seem to be unaffected by the images presented to them?