On the emotional relevance of active lifestyles and
effort-driven rewards
The Amish are about six times more active than we are--accordingly, their depression rates are one-fifth to one-tenth that of the general public.
In highly industrialized westernized societies, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression; however, in societies where women contribute significantly to the economy of the family and community (e.g., Nigeria and rural Iran), no gender differences are observed.
While most Americans live in urban settings, two-thirds of the Chinese population still lives in rural areas where their agrarian (farming) lifestyle is characterized by independence and self-sufficiency. Although cultural comparisons are problematic, research suggests that depression rates in China are many times lower than in the US (less than 1% in China vs. appx. 10% in the US).
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