The etiology of mental disorders has been understood only to a limited extent due to the interplay of various biological and environmental factors. Some mental health illnesses like schizophrenia are caused by several factors like possible genetic predisposition, biochemical imbalance in the brain, or several clusters of stressful circumstances in the environment. A plethora of research proves that indeed, social factors greatly increase the probability of the formation of mood and anxiety disorders among individuals. Precisely, sociological theories like functionalism, interpersonal theory, attachment theory, stress theory, and labeling theory can expound the genesis of mental health illnesses and the role of genetics in relation to the environment.
According to Scheid & Brown (2010), mental health disorders originate from negative life events, stressful situations, demanding social roles, and the levels of social support available for an individual. It is the response to the social and cultural influences that leads to genetic disorders and mental health illnesses. Scheid & Brown (2010) further claim that life events, social conditions, roles in society, and social structures can disturb someone’s state of mind and interfere with the genetic makeup. Therefore, the disturbances result in either positive or negative thoughts that influence the feelings concerning how people think of their personalities. The state of social conditions leads to adverse mental health outcomes due to the disturbed state of mind that tampers with the individual’s genes. Still, Scheid & Brown (2010) provide evidence that persistence living conditions that are rooted in everyday circumstances tamper with the genetic makeup of the brain. They provide typical examples with those who live in areas characterized by high rates of poverty, neighborhood instability, and increased crime rates. Other traumatic circumstances like divorced families and living in dilapidated housing can result in psychological distress. Similarly, Scheid & Brown (2010) posit that even unreasonable parents and oppressive working conditions can make one’s psychological well-being to be on the low.
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Choudhry, et al. (2016) offer a sociological perspective on the roles of genetics in mental health illnesses. Psychological factors like unhappiness, low self-esteem, and rejection due to family conflicts are the major life stressors. In addition to socioeconomic factors including poverty, limited access to financial resources, and unfulfilled basic and secondary needs can contribute to increased risk of mental illnesses. Furthermore, Choudhry, et al. (2016) stress on a lack of direction and purpose in life as a major cause of trauma, which consequently leads to the development of mental health illnesses. In this regard, the social factors discussed in this context lead to overthinking and the ultimate repercussion is the mental health illnesses.
Avasthi (2016) provides evidence on how sociological theories and environmental factors contribute to mental health illnesses. For instance, the social stress theory posits that mental health illnesses occur as a result of the exposure to social statuses and post-traumatic experiences that exacerbate stress. Therefore, if one is incapable of coping with the situation, it can result in detrimental stressful conditions that reduce self-esteem and the inability to master concepts. Avasthi’s (2016) literature conforms to the ideas of Scheid & Brown (2010), which maintain that the social determinants of life can contribute to mental illnesses. Further, Avasthi (2016) presents the idea of social causation and social selection or drift that tamper with the human’s emotional responses and genetic makeup. Consequently, the interplay of these factors leads to depression and mental health complications. Finally, the social factors can change the chemistry of the brain and neuronal communication, which is sometimes referred to as neurochemistry, depending on the relationship between brain structure and an individual’s behavior.
References
Avasthi A. (2016). Are social theories still relevant in current psychiatric practice?. Indian J Soc Psychiatry , 32:3-9. http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2016;volume=32;issue=1;spage=3;epage=9;aulast=Avasthi
Choudhry, F. R., et al. (2016). Beliefs and perception about mental health issues: a meta-synthesis. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat ., 12: 2807–2818.Dove Medical Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5096745/
Scheid, T. L. & Brown, T. N. (2010, Eds.). A handbook for the study of mental health. Social contexts, theories, and systems, 2 nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=IxQDvOodXeAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=how+genetics+factor+into+mental+illnesses+in+sociology&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjS9vvXgp3nAhULZMAKHd98AiQQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=how%20genetics%20factor%20into%20mental%20illnesses%20in%20sociology&f=false
