The cross-cultural approaches on happiness and distress determine the well-being levels of individuals. Psychologists recognize the significance of psychological well-being in the treatment of several mental disorders.
Part 1: Happiness and Well-Being
Cross-cultural studies on subjective well-being have revealed that culture has a significant influence on happiness and well-being. The degree of individualism or collectivism portrayed by a particular culture helps to predict the outcome. Based on these two cultural perspectives, three main factors influence happiness and well-being. These factors vary across the two cultural dimensions.
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Interpersonal Relationships
Social relationships have a significant impact on the well-being of an individual. Social interaction enables an individual to form supportive relationships with other members of society. People love to be appreciated and accepted by others, and this significantly influences their psychological well-being. Culture has a significant impact on the interpersonal relationships formed by an individual. For instance, in collectivistic cultures such as Japan engaging emotions such as friendly feelings characterize social relationships (Suh, & Koo, 2008). Individuals tend to become more emotionally involved in social relationships.
The emotional attachment limits the individuals' ability to express their feelings and desires, which may result in reduced psychological well-being. People tend to forego their happiness to make their significant others happier. In an individualistic society such as the United States, disengaging emotions such as pride dominate the social interactions. Self-actualization and personal happiness are culturally accepted inclinations for an individual.
Internalization of Cultural Values
The way individuals intellectualize cultural values has a significant impact on their well-being. Cross-cultural studies have revealed that people may differ in how they perceive a particular cultural value in the context of their culture (Suh, & Koo, 2008). For instance, conformity to the social norms and expectations is considered as an essential value in collectivistic societies. An individual is culturally expected to engage in things that will ensure the happiness of others even if it's against their desires. This results in limited well-being and happiness of these individuals as they conform to their cultural values.
Individualism has a different perspective on conformity. Individuals are culturally expected to do what they desire and make them happy. To have positive experiences in what they do, people need to believe in it and have a passion for it. For instance, a college student pursuing a career of his or her choice is more likely to experience satisfaction and happiness throughout their college life. It would be prudent to, therefore, conclude that cultural values and what they demand from an individual has a considerable impact on the well-being of an individual. A person is more likely to be happy and has psychological well-being if they do what they enjoy doing.
Conceptualization of Self-Identity
Psychologists agree that having high self-esteem and a consistent self-identity is crucial to psychological well-being and happiness (Suh, & Koo, 2008). The cultural context of an individual has a considerable influence on these dispositional qualities. For instance, in an individualistic culture such as the United States, self-reliance is encouraged as a cultural value. The self-dependence enhances both the identity and esteem of an individual giving him or her sense of being in control of his or her life (Suh, & Koo, 2008). Studies indicate that individuals with high self-esteem are happier than those with low esteem. In a collectivistic society, self-dependence is discouraged, which may have a significant impact on self-esteem. Individuals in Eastern cultures have limited well-being and happiness.
These three influences on happiness and well-being are crucial to improving the welfare of the nation. The social relationships are part of human lives. It is, therefore, necessary for the citizens to learn how to form relationships that will promote their happiness and well-being. A relationship where an individual is expected to sacrifice their happiness for others is toxic and should be avoided. Also, cultural values have a significant role in people's social interactions. They give the cultural identity to an individual. However, individuals should learn to distinguish between toxic and fit cultural values to ensure their happiness. Values that hinder their happiness and well-being should be eliminated. Lastly, self-esteem and identity are crucial dispositional qualities that an individual should possess to ensure satisfaction. Promoting cultural practices that enhance these qualities would ensure a happier nation.
Part 2: Psychological Distress and Disorder
Several factors influence psychological distress and disorder.
Emotional Suppression.
It is usual for people to face stressful situations. How they deal with the stress emotions may lead to psychological distress or disorders. Emotional suppression is one strategy that is commonly used in Eastern cultures. It involves hiding emotional displays of unpleasant thoughts. In China, for instance, individuals are culturally expected to conceal their emotions. Openly displaying them is considered a sign of weakness (Ryder, Yang, & Heine, 2002). Individuals suffer in silence to maintain social harmony. Such individuals are more likely to suffer from psychological disorders and distress. In the United States, however, individuals are culturally allowed to display their emotions in stressful situations openly. For instance, crying in public during a funeral is culturally acceptable. This helps to reduce the chances of psychological distress.
Cultural Stigma on Psychological Disorders
Psychological disorders are common cross-cultural occurrences. The way cultures deal with individuals with mental illnesses has a significant impact on psychological distress and disorders. For instance, Chinese culture stigmatizes individuals with mental illnesses. Family members, therefore, conceal the illness and keep within the family members to avoid the shame associated with the condition (Ryder, Yang, & Heine, 2002). Individuals with mental disorders are often isolated from society and not accorded the necessary psychological treatment. Families with a mentally ill person are considered to share the same issues which limit their social interaction within the community. In Western cultures, such as in the United States, a more optimistic approach is used in dealing with psychological disorders. Mentally ill individuals are taken to mental facilities where they are given individualized care.
Traumatic Experiences Coping Styles
Traumatic experiences lead to emotional stress that can often lead to depression. Coping with traumatic experiences has a significant impact on the psychological distress of an individual. Survivors of tragic events, such as wars may experience acute stress and psychological distress that may result in mental disorders. Coping mechanisms determine whether individuals will recover from the trauma, or they will fall into the abyss of distress.
Culture has a significant influence on coping styles. For instance, in Syria, a more collective approach is used to deal with the trauma. According to the Syrian culture, social events and feasts are celebrated together (Abi-Hashem, 2017). Families and communities come together to celebrate important events in Syrian culture. This is done even in refugee camps, and it helps individuals to cope with the trauma caused by the war. A more individualistic approach is, however, adopted in Western Culture, and individuals tend to develop distress due to limited social interactions.
The three influences are crucial to understanding the nation's psychological distress. Cultural impact on emotional suppression, stigmatization, and coping styles for traumatic events should be considered. Citizens of a nation may belong to different cultural groups, some of which promote harmful cultural values and beliefs. Understanding the role of culture in influencing distress would help the country to curb such cultural beliefs and practices to ensure the psychological well-being of its citizens (Chentsova-Dutton, Ryder, & Tsai, 2014).
Part 3: Policy Recommendations
I would recommend the following policies to reduce the psychological distress of the nation;
The nation should come up with a law that ensures that all mentally ill individuals are taken to mental facilities for medical care . This policy would be essential to ensure that the cultural dictates do not deny a mentally ill individual a chance to get treatment. The policy would also curb stigmatization that is associated with mental disorders. Individuals would be more willing to seek assistance when psychologically distressed.
Open up mental treatment facilities and allow them adequate resources. This move would ensure that psychological distress is handled like any other disease which would encourage more people to seek medical services. The impact of this would be a reduction in psychological distress in the country.
Develop legislation that protects the human rights of mentally ill patients in the mental facilities. This would ensure that the patients are treated with human dignity during medical procedures. The ripple effect of this would be more patients seeking medical services and a reduction in psychological distress in the nation.
I would recommend the following policies to ensure the psychological wellbeing of the nation;
A policy to have counseling centers in all major hospitals . These centers should provide free counseling services to psychologically disturbed individuals, especially after trauma. The counseling centers should then refer to more severe cases to the mental treatment hospitals.
Establish a government department that ensures the psychological well-being of all citizens. Institutionalizing such a department would ensure that the government gives the matter adequate attention by having specific individuals responsible for the citizen's welfare.
Establish health care systems in prisons that will ensure prisoners mental health. The prisoners are some of the most vulnerable individuals to psychological distress (Posholi, 2019). The government should, therefore, guarantee the prisoners' well-being. A policy that allows operational mental facilities within the prisons should be developed.
References
Abi-Hashem, N. (2017). Trauma, Coping, and Resiliency among Syrian Refugees in Lebanon and Beyond. Human Strengths and Resilience: Developmental, Cross-Cultural, and International Perspectives, 105.
Chentsova-Dutton, Y. E., Ryder, A. G., & Tsai, J. (2014). Understanding depression across cultural contexts.
Posholi, M. (2019). An exploration of the perceptions of prison health care personnel regarding the accessibility of mental health services for inmates in Maseru prison.
Ryder, A. G., Yang, J., & Heine, S. J. (2002). Somatization vs. psychologization of emotional distress: A paradigmatic example for cultural psychopathology. Online readings in psychology and culture, 10(2), 3.
Suh, E. M., & Koo, J. (2008). Comparing subjective well-being across cultures and nations. The science of subjective well-being, 414-427.
