The Deseret (UT) News (7/22, Hales) reports a recent survey released by the World Health Organization indicates that depression is the leading cause of adolescent illness and disability worldwide and is increasing in teenagers. While the article is primarily about teen depression, it also notes that “a study from the National Institutes of Health found that media portrayals of body image and the ‘ideal’ life create unrealistic expectations for teenagers, disrupting their ‘normal identity development’ and leading to depression.” Specifically, “the NIH study found that violent or graphic media augments depressive tendencies by creating an idea that the world is worse than it is.”
Related Links:
— “Understanding and responding to the increase in teen depression,” Emily Hales, Deseret News, July 21, 2014.