Sociology of Mental Disorder by Cockerham William C.;

Author:Cockerham, William C.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

This quotation may be the most accurate description of why depressive disorders—as compared with other mental disorders—are a particular problem in rural areas. Although rural areas may be more peaceful, they are also more isolated and perhaps boring for some people because social and cultural stimulation is lacking.

Mental Disorder and Urban Living

People in the United States live in what is known as a Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA), a classification scheme devised by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. CBSAs typically are counties or groups of contiguous counties, except for New England, where CBSAs consist only of towns or cities. A CBSA has a central urban area or urban cluster of populated areas. Within CBSAs are metropolitan statistical areas that have a relatively high population density (at least 50,000 people) and micropolitan areas (at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 people).

The surroundings of urban life in metropolitan statistical areas vary from the so-called concrete jungles of the inner city to urban or suburban areas where the countryside is nearby. A common notion of city living, at least in very large cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles, is that of human beings packed into overcrowded areas and caught up in the “rat race,” in which the pursuit of success is everything. The casualties of this environment are those people who finish up homeless or in the slums, prison, or mental hospitals. Those who adapt may seem distrustful, selfish, cynical, aloof, superficial, and perhaps mercenary. Of course, that, like most stereotypes, is inaccurate—many people in big cities do not have those traits, but the image remains nonetheless. Cities offer much of both the best and the worst that is available in society; the best cultural, intellectual, and economic opportunities are found in cities, but so are the most crime, environmental pollution, overcrowded housing, and mental disorder. Despite these latter drawbacks, many people are attracted to urban living because of the ready availability of goods and services, entertainment, restaurants, sporting events, and social activities.

OVERCROWDED HOUSING. A particular aspect of urban living and mental health that has caught the attention of social scientists is the possible effects of a highly dense population and overcrowded housing. Past studies have maintained that high levels of density present serious psychological problems for human beings (Baldassare 1978). These studies attempted to test the theory that people living in large communities find themselves in a locale that is relatively confining in relation to the number of people present and the amount of space available. The greater the density, the more “crowded” people feel. It is therefore thought that perhaps the tension brought on by this situation will become so stressful that physical or mental problems will result. “Relief must somehow be found, for example, by aggression or withdrawal,” says Fischer (1976:155) as an illustration of this approach, “or the stress will result in mental or physical illness.”

But is this actually the case? Does overcrowding cause mental disorder? There is research that suggests it may not have a particularly strong effect.

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