People who worry a lot about major problems in society are more likely to have a mental disorder. These problems include international conflicts, housing shortages and climate change. This finding comes from the NEMESIS study by the Trimbos Institute.
NEMESIS is a long-running research project that looks at the mental health and life experiences of adults in the Netherlands. In the 2023 and 2024 research rounds, adults between 21 and 78 years old were asked how much they worry about developments in society. People who reported high levels of worry were more often diagnosed with mood disorders and anxiety disorders. They also showed more problematic use of alcohol or drugs.
The researchers say that the direction of the relationship is still unknown. Two explanations are possible. People who worry more may be at greater risk of developing a mental disorder. It is also possible that people who already have a mental disorder react more strongly to changes in society and start worrying more quickly.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
