Tuesday, January 24, 2012

A 2011 research study by the World Health Organization revealed that affluent countries have a higher rate of depression than do lower-income countries.  Interviewing nearly 90,000 people from 18 countries around the world, the study indicated that money does not, indeed, buy happiness. The top 5 affluent countries with highest rates of depression are: France, United States, New Zealand, The Netherlands and Germany. Low income countries with lowest rates of depression are: China and Mexico



Related Facts

• Affluent countries have the greatest disparity of income. The widest gap of rich and poor.
   
• Affluent countries have a "keeping up with the joneses" competitive nature. Higher levels of rumination and obsessing occur in these nations, which leads to depressive thinking.
   
• Low income countries appear more resilient in dealing with trauma and adversity

3 Tips to Offset This Trend



1) Don't get caught in the destructive cycle of rumination. People in developed nations have a greater tendency to ruminate, or even exaggerate the negative in their past and present life. Those from poorer countries demonstrate greater acceptance of life's challenges, even placing less emphasis on traumatic events than we do..

2) Especially in these turbulent times, refrain from categorizing yourself as being "a have" or "a have-not". This goes, too, for comparing yourself to others, getting lost in the keeping up with the joneses mentality. Remember, it's not having what you want; it's wanting what you've got.

3) Money may make you feel secure, but happiness is found less in material things and more in the bonds of love and connection with others. Re-evaluate your standards and redress your happiness hierarchy.

 

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For more tips or to schedule an interview with Dr. Deborah Serani contact Sam Caggiula, Publicity Manager at Rowman & Littlefield, Phone: +1-301-459-3366 Email:  scaggiula@rowman.com  

About the author: Dr. Deborah Serani is the author of "Living with Depression," by Rowman and Littleflield. Serani is a go-to expert on the subject of depression whose interviews can be found in ABC News, Newsday, Psychology Today, The Chicago Sun Times, Glamour Magazine, The Associated Press, and affiliate radio station programs at CBS and NPR, just to name a few. Serani has also served as a technical advisor for the NBC television show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. 

Deborah Serani, Psy.D.

Psychologist

Author of 'Living with Depression'

New York, NY

1.631.366.4674