 "Photo: Asher Swan")
In a suffocating economy where jobs are scarce and money can be tight, many people, including students, often experience psychological effects.
According to an article in The New York Times, unemployment can trigger psychological effects ranging from higher stress and anxiety levels or even disorders.
Steve Barney, Psychology Department chair, said living in a poor economy could increase the severity of psychological disorders and increase stress and anxiety levels.
Curtis Hill, director of Counseling & Psychological Services, said he believes the poor economy could discourage students from having a vision of a brighter future.
“We see more (college) seniors going to school, working hard, and assuming they will have an idea of where they will work but a lot of students find that’s not the case,” Hill said. “In our culture we’re led to believe you work hard to get school and when you graduate things fall into place.”
Hill said the economic downturn could trigger psychological effects on people because it can make them feel less secure.
“When you see things happen culturally, it can have an overall impact on the environment of our psychological well-being,” Hill said. “Another thing that a lot of developmental psychologists say is we have the need to feel safe and secure and (this poor economy) makes it hard to feel like you can pursue other important goals.”
Hill said it is common for patients to worry about the fragility of employment status but the best way to be remain optimistic about the future is to talk about it.
“When (people talk through it) they feel support and understanding and it gives us some courage and stamina through tough times,” Hill said.
David Shwalb, associate professor of psychology, said many students are normally under a great amount of stress even in a good economy, but it is the recession takes a problem and multiplies the problem.
“It puts stress on students’ morale,” Shwalb said. “(Students) try to look beyond college and see the future and it makes students wonder what they are working so hard for.”
Shwalb said a bad economy could increase the incidence of psychological disorders in times of financial problems, disasters or war for some peoples’ mental health.
A bad economy can also raise levels of anxiety and depression, which are or can lead to psychological disorders, he said.
The state of the economy can have a toll on students’ minds and bodies because of the stress it can cause including poor eating habits, sleeping habits and being distracted from one’s goals, Shwalb said.
“It’s probably realistic to be more pessimistic about one’s situation when economic prospects are bleak and being pessimistic can have a negative effect on both mind and body,” Schwalb said.
Shwalb said it is important to focus on things we can control rather than only on things out of our control.
Barney said people learn a lot from living in a poor economy because they must redefine their priorities by eating healthier, saving money and resources and living within one’s means.
Barney said he thinks the economy is starting to recover and will continue forward if people learn lessons.
“People were making big purchases, such as houses and were taking out loans they couldn’t afford and mortgage companies were giving loans they shouldn’t be giving,” Barney said. “I think living within our means is probably the most important thing.”
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