THE INFLUENCE OF URBANIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY ON DEPESSION RATES IN PESHAWAR

Abstract

Highly competitive rates of urbanization and use of technology in contemporary lives present great challenges in the field of mental health, especially with regard to the increased rates of depression. This study explores the interrelation of urbanization and use of technology and depression in 396 residents of an urban location in Peshawar, Pakistan. With the cross-sectional observational design, the research evaluates the association between such factors as overcrowding, lack of green areas, digital over-exposition, and individual technological routines and depressive symptoms. The participants were recruited by the convenience sampling technique with age 18 and above; who are using digital technologies regularly, and who have been living in urban areas at least a year. The data was retrieved through a structured self-administered questionnaire on demographics, urbanization factors, technology use pattern, depression (PHQ-9) assessment, as well as lifestyle factors. The findings indicate that a high level of survey respondents fell prey to mental exhaustion to extended use of the gadgets, urban stress and anxiety, and depression even in active social media use. Interestingly, most of these participants have described their experiences following online social comparisons as lowering in-state and confidence, respectively, and blame their psychological issues to urbanization and exposure to technology. Nonetheless, most of them also identified the beneficial effects of technology use that help them to stay socially connected and stated that they take active breaks to use digital devices, which positively affect mental health. This evidence makes clear the critical necessity to develop urban planning solutions, with the focus on better mental health support, digital literacy and responsible use of devices, and the availability of mental health services and green areas in urban areas

Keywords: urbanization, the use of technologies, depression, mental health, residents of big cities, digital overexposure, social media