The Many Factors That Contribute to Depression: Biological, Environmental, Social, and Lifestyle

12:18 PM

Friday 02 June 2023

Books – Karim Hassan

Some people are more susceptible to depression than others, due to exposure to a group of factors related to lifestyle, the surrounding environment, and others.

In the following lines, the “Consulto” explains the reasons why some people suffer from depression to a greater extent than others, according to the “Very well health” website.

Depressive factors

1- Biological factors

Brain chemistry

Researchers don’t agree on exactly how chemicals in the brain relate to depression, but some theories suggest that low levels of certain neurotransmitters that brain cells use to send signals to each other can cause depression.

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– Genetics

Researchers say that relatives of people suffering from depression in the same family are more likely to develop depression than others, but the presence of a family history of depression does not mean that you will necessarily suffer from depression, and there are still other factors that must line up in order for the genetic predisposition to lead to depression. .

– chronic diseases

Depression is common in people with chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and migraines. Research shows that chronic pain conditions may cause biochemical changes that lead to symptoms of depression.

– hormones

Certain hormonal shifts can also increase the risk of depression. For example, hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can contribute to depression.

2- Environmental factors

Early trauma and abuse

Early childhood trauma is one of the most common risk factors for depression. Adverse childhood experiences are known to increase a person’s risk of developing physical, mental, and chronic illnesses, including depression. Types of trauma include physical, emotional, and sexual trauma.

– poverty

According to a 2015 survey by the American Psychological Association, 64% of American adults said that money was an important source of stress in their lives, and people living in poverty were more likely to be depressed than those living at or above the poverty level.

Environmental exposures

Where a person lives can have an impact on mental health in several ways. For example, some people report experiencing depression during certain months of the year, sometimes called seasonal affective disorder.

There are also studies that point to pollution and other environmental exposures as possible contributing factors to depression. For example, some research has linked childhood lead exposure to poor mental health later in life.

3- Social factors

– Personal

Certain personality traits, including low self-esteem, pessimism, neuroticism, and self-criticism, are associated with a greater tendency toward depression and other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and eating disorders.

– Stress

Major life events—including traditionally positive events like marriage or negative events like job loss—can put stress on a person, and when we feel stressed, our cortisol levels rise, which can affect serotonin levels, causing depression.

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– Sorrow

Although grief is a process that usually follows a certain time frame that begins with an event (such as the death of a family member) and moves gradually toward resolution or acceptance, it can also cause feelings of depression.

– Social media

Several studies have indicated that social media use can trigger symptoms of depression and anxiety through insecurities, comparison, fear of missing out, and bullying.

4- Lifestyle factors

Medication prescriptions

It is known that some medications may increase a person’s risk of depression, including beta-blockers, interferon-alpha, and others.

Medications used to treat mental illnesses and sleep disorders can worsen or cause depression in some people.

– Take drugs

According to data from the National Alliance on Mental Health’s National Survey of Drugs and Health, 7.9 million people in the United States had depression and a substance use disorder in 2014.

And when substance abuse and depression occur at the same time, it can be difficult to find the right treatment.

Diet and physical activity

Diets high in sugar and trans fats, especially highly processed foods, can promote or worsen depression, while healthy diets may play the opposite role.

While being overweight may be linked to the onset of depression, it should also be noted that eating foods high in sugar or trans fats can upset the balance of the gut microbiome, and this can lead to leaky gut, which leads to changes in neurochemicals. Hence the possibility of depression.

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