Five times as many high school and college students are faced with anxiety or mental health issues when compared to youths during the Great Depression, according to a new report.
The study was based off a physiological questionnaire that has been used since 1938. Researchers at five universities analyzed the responses of nearly 78,000 high school or college students from 1938 through 2007, reports MSNBC.com. The results show an increase in school and general stresses from 5 percent during the Great Depression to 31 percent in 2007.
Depression increased 5 percentage points from 1 percent to 6 percent when compared to 1938 results. According to the study, the increase in anxiety may be attributed to social ideologies of wealth and status.
The increase in stress and mental disorders may also be more severe than the study suggests due to the increased use of prescription anti-depressants and other medications for mental disorders.
The study also showed an increase in youths having trouble with authority figures. The “above the law” mentality increased from 5 percent in 1938 to 24 percent in 2007.
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