Typology 4-  Social Relations

Wilkinson and Pickett (2009) claim that income inequality within a society leads to inequalities in mental health, with those lower down the social hierarchy suffering greater levels of depression than those higher up the hierarchy. They put this, and the increased levels of depression experienced in recent decades down to alterations in the nature of society. Namely, that a retreat back to neo-liberalism ideals has lead to increased individualism and income inequality.

This increased individualism has lead to an increase in 'social evaluate threat' in which people have become sensitive to their percieved position in society in relation to others. This has an impact on self-esteem and an individuals subjective experiences of the world around them.

Marmot (2005) preposes that it is the circumstances in which people live and work and the link between income, education and status that are ultimately linked to illness, describing this situation as one 'status syndrome'.
The outward signs of sucess or failure, such as the better jobs, higher incomes, education, housing, clothes and so on all make and difference to how you are viewed by others.

Studies have shown that when tasks are set up to include self-evaluative threat (e.g. threats to self-esteem or social status) in which others can negatively judge performance, larger and more reliable cortisol (the stress hormone) changes were provoked, than stressers without these threats (Pickett and Wilkinson, 2009).
Hence, both Marmot (2005), and Wilkinson and Pickett (2009), posit and link between stress and mental health as stress is hardly conducive to mental wellbeing.

Taking a Neo-Durkheimien approach in which depression is not seen simply as an individual psychological issue but also to some extent a social and cultural phenomena, Putnum (2000) using the idea of social capital argues that the strength of social bonds and connections among individuals are an important determining factor in mental wellbeing. From this approach the increase in individualism and decrease in social cohesion that has been observed in recent decades has lead to social isolation (especially for those worst off) and increased levels of depression. Quoting Putnum (2000) 'Social capital appears to be a compliment, if not a substitute for prozac' (Putnum, 2000, p.335).

From a feminist perspective, gender plays a more important role in mental wellbeing with women over represented in depression statistics. This could be due to women being more willing to discuss mental health issues and therefore more likely to be diagnosed with depression. However, Oakley (1982) argues there is a link between poor mental wellbeing and oppression. Women are more likely to occupy low status positions in the work place, and therefore have less control then men over there environment. This, combined with isolation and primary care responsibility have a negative impact on mental wellbeing (Gove and Tudor, 1972 cited in Busfield, J 2001).