‘An+Island+of+Misery,+in+an+Ocean+of+Happiness?’+Gen-Ys+Mental+Health.

Student Name: Jayde Costanzo Student Number: n7187262  Tutor: Sophie Miller   Topic: Is Gen-Y too ‘individualistic’ and ‘consumer-obsessed’? What is the mental health of this generation?


 * “Are these things really better than the things I already have? Or am I just trained to be dissatisfied with what I have now?” **
 * - Chuck Palahniuk, //L// // ullaby // **

=__Cultural Artefact:__ =

media type="custom" key="11181826"

==== This video is of a simple acoustic guitar song; //‘Society’//. This version is a cover performed by Pearl Jam’s, Eddie Vedder, which was used to feature in Sean Penn’s film //'Into the Wild'// released in September 2007. //‘Society’// was written and originally performed by Jerry Hannan, and made it onto the official 80th Academy Awards list of fifty-nine songs that were in the running for "Best Original Song". ====

=__Public Health Issue:__ = ==== Generation-Y is resilient, adaptable and doing well and, at the same time, experiencing increased rates of important mental and physical health problems (Eckersley, Wierenga, & Wyn, 2006). . Socio-economic factors, such as social class and family structure, are no longer the main drivers of the patterns and trends in this Generations mental health (Eckersley, 2011; Collishaw et al., 2010; Twenge et al., 2010; Sweeting et al., 2010). The causes appear to be more existential and relational than material and structural, linked to factors associated with rising materialism and individualism (Eckersley 2008, & 2009). ====

==== This evidence and theory will be the bases of the essay. The cultural artefact is a clever statement on the values of current society and culture. This essay investigates how the growing consumer culture, in which Generation-Y was raised, has contributed to their materialistic traits and increased the prevalence of mental illness. Furthermore, how growing trends to move away from organized religion, has contributed to the increased individualism among Gen-Y, and again contribute to mental illness. ====

**__Literature Review:__**
==== The Department of Health and Aging states that, mental illness is a general term that refers to a group of illnesses, in the same way that heart disease refers to a group of illnesses and disorders affecting the heart. The major types of mental illness are depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders, and eating disorders (Department of Health and Ageing, 2007). A mental health problem or illness significantly affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves (Department of Health and Ageing, 2007). Recent ABS data reveals that one in four young Australians belonging to Generation-Y had a mental disorder in 2007. Anxiety disorders were the most common, affecting 15% of young people(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). Generation-Y is experiencing higher rates of mental health problems than other age groups, and are retaining their increased risk beyond youth into older age (Eckersley, 2005; Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1998; Kessler et al., 2005). With possible explanation for this, being that, they have a relatively low use of mental health services. Just under a quarter of this generation with a mental disorder had used mental health services in 2006 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). According to the World Health Organization, depression will be one of the biggest health problems worldwide by the year 2020. In Australia mental illness is the single largest cause of disability. Mental disorders were projected to account for about 370,000 DALY in 2010; more than 13% of Australia’s total burden of disease and injury (National Mental Health Reform, 2010). Moreover, the impact of mental illness goes well beyond a person’s immediate health and wellbeing, potentially leading to reduced employment, family breakdown, homelessness and suicide (National Mental Healt Reform, 2010). These alarming statistics place mental health among Australia’s National Health Priority Areas (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). ====

====Obviously the age or life-stage of Generation-Y makes them unique to other cohorts. Being young they have different priorities to older generations. However age is not the sole reason for generational behaviours otherwise teenagers today would be indistinguishable from teenagers of a generation ago (McCrindle, 2002). The socio-cultural environment of different time periods has one of the biggest impacts on shaping generations (Twenge, 2000; Twenge & Campbell, 2001; Twenge, Zhang, & Im, 2004; Wells & Twenge, 2005). Recently materialism and individualism have been identified as detrimental to health and wellbeing through their impacts on psychosocial factors such as personal control and social support. Many studies show that materialism – the pursuit of money and possessions – seems to breed not happiness but dissatisfaction, depression, anxiety, anger, isolation and alienation (Kasser, 2002; Eckersley, 2005; DeAngelis, 2004). People for whom“extrinsic goals” such as fame, fortune and glamour are a priority in life, tend to experience more anxiety and depression and lower overall wellbeing ( Dwyer & Wyn, 2001; Yates & McLeod, 2000; Woodman, 2004). Generation-Y hold more than half of Australia’s discretionary spending power (Smith, 2006). Having entered part-time or casual employment throughout secondary school and opting to remain living at home for longer, Gen Y are an attractive and lucrative market, especially given that they spend most, if not all, of their income (Dower, 2005). Evidence of Gen-Y’s materialistic nature and narcissism is revealed through the power they exert over the industry. They have the greatest influence on fashion and popular cultural trends, and are soon to become the most dominant demographic across those categories (Bakewell & Mitchell, 2003). Further evidence that alludes to their consumerist nature is their increasing ownership of credit cards. This is evidenced by the steady increase both in the availability of credit cards marketed to young adults (eg. Virgin Money//’//s credit cards) and the rise in the number of retailers introducing their own store cards with interest-free periods (Bakewell & Mitchell, 2003). ====

==== Consumerism has increasingly come to affect mundane and everyday aspects of Generation-Y’s life. Instead of empowering with freedom of choice, consumer culture represents an entrapment; an endless quest of acquisition tied to identity (Hill, 2011). Perhaps the most destructive aspect of consumerism lies in the fact that much of its message remains out of the con­scious realm because it is so ubiquitous (Dittmar, 2007). There is a close psychological association between identity and material goods in that goods communicate and sym­bolize personal and social identity to the self and others (Dittmar, 2007). Furthermore, many will internalize these ideals and subsequently engage in negative comparison resulting in damage to both mental and physical health (Dittmar, 2007). The quest for ‘body perfect’ is a good example of how the media creates ideals that are unattainable for the majority, leading to damaging effects for all (Miles, 2000). ====

==== O ne study has used meta-analysis to locate samples of college students and children who completed the same psychological questionnaires at different points in historical time (Twenge, Konrath, Foster, Campbell & Bushman, 2008). To allow for comparisons between Gen-Y and other generations when they were at that same age. The results, found that students today feel much more isolated, misunderstood and emotionally sensitive or unstable than in previous decades. In addition, teens today are more likely to be narcissistic, have poor self-control and to say they're worried, sad, and dissatisfied with life (Twenge et al., 2008). Twenge and her colleagues considered – and rejected – the possibility that economic factors were responsible for the trends in the MMPI scores (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) that they discovered (Twenge & Gentile, 2010). Instead they favored a cultural explanation – in particular, the shift from intrinsic to extrinsic values and goals.  The lead research Jean Twenge told ABC News "We have become a culture that focuses more on material things and less on relationships, . . and this emphasis on things is affecting mental health on a societal level" (Twenge, Media Release, ABC News). ====

==== This point by Twenge (2008) about the heightened focus on possessions and less on relationships relates to the other label given to Generation-Y; Individualistic. Individualism is defined as placing the individual at the centre of a framework of values, norms and beliefs, so freeing people from institutional arrangements, ties and expectations. This in turn loosens the individual’s ties to family, community and society, so reducing the connectedness and support that are important to wellbeing (Eckersley et al., 2006). Recently investigations into the spirituality of Generation-Y have been undertaken in order to gauge just how individualistic this generation has become. ====

====Religion provides a sense of community and belonging for people to feel accepted, a sense of purpose, and a sense of identity. But a three-year national study, conducted by, Monash University, the Australian Catholic University and the Christian Research Association, found many young people followed a secular path. The study, //The Spirit of Generation Y//, found that only 48% of Generation-Y, believed in a god and that of those only 19% were actively involved in a church. Showing this increasing pattern of individualism amongst Gen-Y, as they are no longer interested in organized religions, which provide spiritual and psychological benefits. But rather, as Smith and Denton (2005) labeled it “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”. To youths, it is about taking the moralistic approach to life and striving towards being a self-actualised individual. This personalisation of faith allows youths to pick and choose moral values that are available in the full spectrum of religions without compromising their place in the moral fabric of society (Smith & Denton, 2005). T he Y Generation has become distracted from what is most important to wellbeing and mental health. The quality of their relationships with each other and the world, which, ideally, contribute to a deep and enduring sense of intrinsic worth and existential certainty (Eckersley et al., 2006). ====

**__Cultural and Social Analysis:__**
==== A fundamental feature of the changed patterns and trends in the health of younger Western Generations over several birth cohorts is a shift in emphasis from socio-economic deprivation to psychosocial deprivation; from a problem of material scarcity to one of excess (Eckersley, 2008). Currently, media forces are competing with adult caregivers in their ability to capture the attention of children and guide them accordingly (Linn, 2004). It is in this respect that Generation-Y’s childhoods were always endangered. At the heart of the struggle between childhood and consumerism, child identity formation is at stake (Hill, 2011). The relentless bombardment of media messages that the self is predominantly defined by its capacity to consume began at such an early age for this generation as to over­take many competing thought processes (Linn, 2004). ====

==== One theory according to Postman (1994), is that television, computers and video games do not segregate their audience, unlike the conditions that existed in the 14th and 15th centuries. Until the invention of the printing press there existed no means for adults to harbor exclusive information. With the advent of print, children were shielded from adult information such that the two cultures could develop side by side with next to no crossover (Hill, 2011). The new media environment fronted by television however, provides everyone, simultaneously, with the same information. Since there is virtually nothing left that television has not aired, Postman (1994) concludes that we are a culture without secrets and therefore cannot nurture a culture of childhood. In addition, television programming is for the most part not governed by theories on child development or mediated by a child’s parental figure. Rather, it is driven by a profit-seeking conglomeration with few regulations (Winn, 1983). ====

==== There is no doubt that childhoods of the past were not so emeshed with marketers’ agendas (Hill, 2011). And the results of this dramatic cultural shift led to a fiercely competitive market to capture Generation-Y’s attention. With the purpose of attracting ‘cradle-to-grave’ brand loyalty, marketers upped the ante. They began to impose their logos on the minds of Generation-Y as pre-schoolers who were too young to even recite the alphabet (Cook, 2007). According to Bakewell and Mitchell (2003), Generation-Y has been subjected to more targeted marketing programs and has been brought up with more retailing formats and product/brand choices than any other generation. This Generation has also been acculturated into an environment that provides more opportunities and reasons to shop than ever before (Bakewell & Mitchell, 2003). Leading examples of this would be the introduction of Sunday shopping and extended weekly trading hours. Therefore is it a wonder why this Generation is so materialistic and narcissistic, which cause them to become increasingly dissatisfied with what they have, and therefore depressed and anxious? ====

==== Much of the research on the effects of social change on young people’s health and wellbeing is located within the disciplines of social epidemiology and health sociology, which understand “culture” mainly in terms of “subcultures” or “difference”. This focus means that, the broader trends within Australia’s culture tend to be overlooked. Which is perhaps unsurprising, given that cultures tend to be “transparent” or “invisible” to those living within them because they comprise deeply internalised assumptions and beliefs, making their effects hard to discern (Eckersley et al., 2006). Therefore in order to address these health issues we need to: pay more attention to the social determinants of health; focus on the subjective and intangible (culture, values, stories, spirituality), not just the objective and tangible (structural differences in the economy, education and family); and, ultimately, replace material progress with sustainable development as the defining idea of how to make life better (Eckersley et al., 2006). ====

= =

=__Reflection: __= ==== The cultural artefact for me is highly representative of the destructive allure of the materialistic values in our contemporary society. From its opening lyrics, ‘Society’ creates a succinct philosophical statement. “We have a greed with which we have agreed” highlights how we have succumbed to accepting today’s consumer culture and partake in the belief that we need unnecessary material possessions; “You think you have to want more than you need”. Today society has embedded in us that our possessions equal our identity, which requires continual maintenance in order to keep up with trends hence a perpetuating cycle. Which is summed up beautifully with “Until you have it all you won't be free”. The chorus “Society, you're a crazy breed” for me is an obvious statement symbolizing the complicated, ridiculous, and out of control animals we as a part of society have become. When what we think we know and need is unattainable, “Your thoughts begin to bleed”. ====

==== I have thoroughly enjoyed this assignment, and feel that I have a lot of knew knowledge on this topic and am now seeing our society with a different set of eyes. I have learnt that mental health is a very complicated issue, that has multiple contributing factors and no one simple cause for the onset. I also did not even think to consider the spiritual and religious aspect, as a contributor for Generation-Y's poor mental health - hence, that was also interesting to learn about and consider. Also, I remember reading while researching this topic, that we aren't really aware of how society moulds us into people with certain values and habits, because we are emerged in the culture and so theres <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">no sudden change, rather a gradual one, which just seems normal. This idea caused me to reflect on exactly what is happening all round us everyday, in all different cities across the world, and yet somehow at the end of the day I end up focusing on tangible 'needs' (e.g. i //really// need a new dress for this weekend), and how unsatisfied, annoyed and disappointed I am if i can't find the perfect fix. Which now I find myself asking, Why do I want that material object? Do I actually need it (or is it just to add to the other fifty in my wardrobe)? is it really me whose wants it? Or if its what society stipulates I need in order to be accepted (as I couldn't possibly wear that same outfit twice!). ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//* SIDE NOTE:// Another artefact that is really relevant, but I didnt use, which looks at the aspect of Gen-Ys religious beliefs and the materalism/individulism is the SBS documentary, mY generation - episode one - Y God! great episode and highly relevant! ====

====[|http://player.sbs.com.au/programs#/programs_08/fullepisodes/fullep_documentary/playlist/mY-generation-Ep-1-Y-God/]====

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">*NOTE: Learning Experience comments: after Reference List //
=__<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Reference List: __=

**__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Journal Articles: __**
====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Australian Bureau of Statistics (1998). //Mental// //health and well-being: Profile of adults, Australia// //1997//. ABS Cat No. 4326.0, Canberra: ABS. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007). //National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results//. ABS Cat No. 4326.0. Canberra: ABS ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Bakewell, C., and Mitchell, V., (2003). ‘Generation Y consumer decision-making styles’, // International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, //// 31 // (2), 95-106. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Collishaw, S., Maughan, B., Goodman, R. & Pickles, A. (2004). ‘Time trends in adolescent mental health’, //Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,// //45//(1), 1350-62. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Cook, D. (2007). The disempowering empowerment of children’s consumer ‘choice’. //Society and Business Review,// //2//(1), 37–52. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Dittmar, H., (2007). The cost of consumers and the ‘cage within’: the impact of the material ‘good life and ‘body perfect’ ideals on individuals’ identity and wellbeing. //Psychological Inquiry,// //18//(1), 23–31. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Dittmar. H., Halliwell, E., & Ive, S. (2006). Does Barbie make girls want to be thin? The effects of experimental exposure to images of dolls on body image of 5-8 year-old girls. //Developmental Psychology, 42//(1), 283-292//.// ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Dwyer, P., Smith, G., Tyler, D. & Wyn, J. (2003). Life patterns, career outcomes and adult choices. //Australian////Youth Research Centre, Melbourne.// ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Eckersley, R. (2006). Is modern Western culture a health hazard? //International Journal of Epidemiology//, //35//(1)//,// 252-258. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Eckersley, R. (2008). Never better – or getting worse? The health and wellbeing of young Australians. //Canberra: Australia 21 Ltd//. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Eckersley, R. (2009). Population measures of subjective wellbeing: How useful are they? //Social Indicators Research//, //94// (1), 1-12. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Eckersley, R., Wierenga, A., & Wyn, J. (2006). Success & wellbeing. A preview of the Australia 21 reporton young people’s wellbeing. // Youth Studies Australia, 25 // (1), 10-18. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Kessler, R., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., & Walters, E. (2005). ‘Lifetime prevalence and age of- onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication’, //Archives of// //General Psychiatry, 62(//1), 593-602. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Smith, C., Faris, R., Denton, M., & Regnerus, M. (2003). Mapping American Adolescent Subjective Religiosity and Attitudes of Alienation Toward Religion: A Research Report. //Sociology of Religion,// //64//(1), 111-133. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Steinberg, S., & Kincheloe. J. (1997) ‘No more secrets: Kinderculture, information saturation, and the postmodern childhood. //Boulder, CO: Westview, 1–30.// ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Sweeting, H. (2010). Can we explain increases in young people’s psychological distress over time? //Social Science & Medicine//, 71, 1819-1830. ====

====<span style="color: #141413; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Twenge, J. (2000). The age of anxiety? Birth cohort change in anxiety and neuroticism, 1952–1993. //Journal of Personality and Social Psychology//, //79//(1), 1007–1021. ====

====<span style="color: #141413; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Twenge, J. (2001). Birth cohort changes in extraversion: A cross-temporal meta-analysis, 1966–1993. //Journal of Personality and Individual Differences,// //30(1),//735–748. ====

====<span style="color: #141413; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Twenge, J. (2006). Generation Me: Why today’s young Americans are more confident, assertive, entitled—and more miserable than ever before. //New York: Free Press.// ====

====<span style="color: #141413; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Twenge, J., & Campbell, W. (2001). Age and birth cohort differences in self-esteem: A cross-temporal meta-analysis. //Personality and Social Psychology Review//, 5, 321–344. ====

====<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Twenge, J., Gentile, B., DeWall, C., Ma, D., Lacefield, K., Schurtz, D. (2010) Birth cohort increases in psychopathology among young Americans, 1938-2007: A cross- temporal meta-analysis of the MMPI. //Clinical Psychology Review. 30//(1) 145-54. ====

====<span style="color: #141413; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Twenge, J., & Im, C. (2007). Changes in the need for social approval, 1958– 2001. //Journal of Research in Personality, 41//(1), 171–189. ====

====<span style="color: #141413; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Twenge, J., Zhang, L., & Im, C. (2004). It’s beyond my control: A cross- temporal meta-analysis of increasing externality in locus of control, 1960– 2002. //Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8//(1), 308–319. ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Woodman, D. (2004). ‘Responsibility and time for escape: The meaning of wellbeing to young Australians’, //Melbourne Journal of Politics////, 29//(1), 82- 94. ====

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">__Websites:__ **
====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Australian Government, (2010). // National Mental Health Reform - Ministerial Statement. // Retrieved from: [] ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2011). //National Priority Health Areas.// Retrieved from: [] ====

====<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Department of Health and Ageing, (2007). What is Mental Illness? Retrieved from: [] ====

Society. (2009, September 22). Society - Into the Wild - Eddie Vedder [Video file]. Retrieved from []
=__<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Learning Engagement:** __=

==== Really good essay! I found the idea in the beginning about how being brought up in a household where both parents work, has lead to Gen-Y learning how to shop and make brand decisions sooner, very interesting. I have also done this topic, and have read all about the cultural reasons for Gen-Ys consumerism, but that never came up, so thanks! The research that you have discussed is very interesting and well analyzed! You’ve taken a different approach, which is refreshing. I wondered as I was reading did the research make mention to any health effects, e.g. these types of shoppers tend to say they feel more anxious or anything? I enjoyed the way you related the findings back to the theories for reasoned action, well done! Lastly just wondering if you had read Gen BuY and if it’s a good read? It sounds like something I could get stuck into. ====

[]
==== I love the “Affluenza” idea, great name/terminology and a great satirical analogy! There is actually a book Affluenza? Just wondering if this is what you were referring to and if you have read it? It is wonderful. ==== ==== Great essay! You really have looked beyond the usual explanations for these trends e.g. social factors (socio-economic status), the media, advertising and instead evaluated the impacts of family life today and its implications on the children of this generation (love the bit about the sense of entitlement!). I also found the statistic about girls in wealthy suburban communities experience depression compared with in urban communities, really interesting! Great stat! I found your reasoning’s for the limitations of current research (and its lack of) very well explained and justified. Lastly, loved the final comment about how once our basic needs are met the pursuit of ‘more’ may be detrimental rather than beneficial to our health. ====