"Much of our lives in the United States is spent chasing freedom and independence. That instinct reflects a broader cultural value system we're steeped in: individualism. Individualism prioritizes personal autonomy, self-reliance, and the individual's needs over those of the group. The United States has an individualism score of 91 out of 100, making it the most individualistic country in the world according to Gert Hofstede's model of national culture."
"While it's a successful concept for an annual firework show, the veneration of independence can be disastrous when applied to mental health and caregiving. The more we prioritize the self, the more disconnected and distressed we often become. A study of 1,906 young adults found that increases in individualism are associated with reduced well-being, including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships."
U.S. cultural individualism emphasizes autonomy and self-reliance, creating social disconnection that harms mental health and caregiving. High national individualism correlates with increased anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and weaker relationships. Caregivers experience isolation, shame, and elevated burnout risk when expected to manage alone. Caregiver distress directly worsens patient outcomes, turning isolation into a clinical problem. Conditions requiring relational support, such as eating disorder recovery, depend on family or friends to recognize illness because anosognosia impedes self-recognition. In such cases, familism and shared responsibility provide communal support that improves caregiver well-being and supports recovery through collective involvement.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]