https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18507710

A cross-temporal meta-analysis found that narcissism levels have risen over the generations in 85 samples of American college students who completed the 40-item forced-choice Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) between 1979 and 2006 (total n=16,475). Mean narcissism scores were significantly correlated with year of data collection when weighted by sample size (beta=.53, p<.001). Since 1982, NPI scores have increased 0.33 standard deviation. Thus, almost two-thirds of recent college students are above the mean 1979-1985 narcissism score, a 30% increase. The results complement previous studies finding increases in other individualistic traits such as assertiveness, agency, self-esteem, and extraversion.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/jul/26/women-wellbeing-unhappiness

When the 1999 results were published, there was concern that the incidence of common mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks and anhedonia (loss of capacity to experience pleasure) had significantly increased for girls from 19% to 32%. The increase for boys was much smaller, at only 2%. But the latest set of results are even more dramatic. There has been an increase for both sexes: boys are now on 21%, and girls are at a staggering rate of 44%.

Her meta-analysis covered 37,000 college students. It found that in 1982, 15% got high scores on a narcissism personality index; by 2006 it was 25% – and the largest share of this increase was women.

One possibility is that women's identity has always been framed around relationships – as mothers, daughters, wives, friends and sisters. "Relationality" is still central to how women see their lives, and yet it is entirely at odds with an individualistic, intensely competitive, narcissistic culture. Women, brought up to seek social approval, battle between competing frames of reference, and many end up feeling failure and inadequacy on multiple fronts.

The expectations of girls and women have multiplied and intensified – on every front, from passing exams to looking good and having more friends and better photos on Facebook. Technology proliferates the places in which one is required to self-promote.

Basically this psychologist is explaining the rise in depression and anxiety (especially among women) as a factor of increased expectations for women across the board. Do you agree with this? I think the historically lower physical and social expectations of men led to men creating a healthier foundation for their identity. Times are changing though and the physical expectations of men are higher along with the financial and social. This would also explain the rise of anxiety, depression and panic attacks among men too.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/11/facebook-former-executive-ripping-society-apart

Facebook's former VP of user growth explained how social media is ripping society apart and creating less happiness throughout the social classes.

“This is a global problem. It is eroding the core foundations of how people behave by and between each other.”

The leveraging and monetization of female sexuality for profit has led to the decline of happiness, especially among women. At one point there was only one way to monetize female sexuality (prostitution), today we see many platforms successfully capitalizing by converting female sexuality into a commodity for men to consume and for women to compete against each other.

Does this do a disservice to women and men alike? Does this new environment explain the rise in anxiety, depression, panic attacks and anhedonia women report feeling? Why do you think reports of mental health well-being get significantly worse (for both genders) even as our lives improve by every objective measure?

General discussion on any thoughts on the studies or words above too.