Why Has Anxiety Increased in Modern Society?

Anxiety has become one of the defining mental health challenges of the twenty-first century. Across much of the Western world, reported levels of anxiety have increased substantially over recent decades, particularly among young people. This rise has occurred despite significant improvements in life expectancy, healthcare, education, nutrition and physical safety. By many traditional measures, modern society is healthier and more prosperous than at any other point in history. Yet emotionally, many people report feeling more anxious, overwhelmed and dissatisfied than previous generations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that hundreds of millions of people worldwide now live with anxiety disorders, making them among the most common mental health conditions globally.¹ In the United Kingdom, the Office for National Statistics has consistently found that self-reported anxiety has risen since wellbeing measurements began, with younger adults reporting the highest levels.² While improved awareness and diagnosis account for some of this increase, researchers generally agree that they do not explain the trend entirely.

Psychologist Oliver James argues that modern Western culture has become increasingly preoccupied with achievement, status and material success. In Affluenza, he suggests that despite unprecedented wealth, many people continue to experience emotional distress because they evaluate themselves against unrealistic cultural expectations rather than their own values. James observed:

"In the case of British people, nearly one quarter suffered from emotional distress (mental health illness like depression, anxiety, or psychosis) in the past 12 months. And there is strong evidence that one quarter of us are on the verge thereof."³

Although prevalence estimates have changed since the book was published, James's central argument, that economic prosperity does not necessarily produce emotional wellbeing, continues to resonate.

Philosopher Alain de Botton explores a similar idea in Status Anxiety. He argues that many people experience a persistent fear that they are not sufficiently successful, respected or accomplished. Despite enjoying opportunities unimaginable to previous generations, individuals often feel inadequate because they continually compare themselves with others. As de Botton writes:

"A population blessed with riches and possibilities far outstripping those imagined by our ancestors... have shown a remarkable capacity to feel that who they are and what they have are not enough."⁴

Psychological research supports this observation. Social comparison theory, first proposed by Leon Festinger in 1954, suggests that human beings naturally evaluate themselves by comparing their abilities, appearance and achievements with those of others.⁵ While comparison can sometimes motivate growth, frequent upward comparisons measuring ourselves against those who appear more successful are consistently associated with lower self-esteem, anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Modern society has amplified these comparisons exponentially. Previous generations largely compared themselves with neighbours, colleagues and friends. Today, social media exposes us to carefully curated images of extraordinary success, beauty, wealth and happiness from millions of people around the world.

A growing body of research has linked excessive or problematic social media use with increased anxiety and poorer psychological wellbeing. A systematic review published in JAMA Pediatrics found consistent associations between heavy social media use and symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescents.⁶ Similarly, the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 Advisory concluded that although social media offers many benefits, excessive use may contribute to anxiety, sleep disruption, poor body image and lower self-esteem, particularly during adolescence.⁷

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that the rapid adoption of smartphones and social media during the early 2010s fundamentally altered childhood and adolescence. In The Anxious Generation, he presents evidence that rising rates of anxiety, depression and self-harm closely mirror the widespread introduction of smartphone-based social media.⁸ While researchers continue to debate the strength of this relationship, there is increasing consensus that digital environments can amplify existing vulnerabilities, particularly when they encourage constant social comparison, perfectionism and fear of missing out (FOMO).

At the same time, anxiety cannot be explained by technology alone. Researchers also identify several broader societal factors that contribute to psychological distress, including:

• increasing economic uncertainty and housing insecurity;
• greater academic and workplace pressures;
• reduced face-to-face community connection;
• information overload and exposure to a continuous news cycle;
• the lingering psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;
• perfectionistic cultural expectations and fear of failure.⁹

Together, these influences create an environment in which many people experience a chronic sense of pressure rather than physical danger. Our nervous systems evolved to respond to immediate threats; today they are often activated by deadlines, financial worries, social judgement and uncertainty about the future.

One of the most effective responses to these pressures is psychoeducation. Understanding how anxiety develops, and recognising the influence of social comparison, perfectionism and unrealistic expectations, helps people respond more compassionately to themselves and develop healthier coping strategies.

This is a central theme in The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. Drawing on the work of Alfred Adler, the authors argue that lasting happiness comes not from outperforming others but from living according to one's own values and making a meaningful contribution to the lives of others. Rather than competing with everyone around us, Adler encourages us to focus on our own path.

This philosophy echoes the enduring wisdom of Max Ehrmann's Desiderata:

"If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself."

Ultimately, the healthiest measure of success is not whether we are ahead of someone else, but whether we are becoming a wiser, kinder and more authentic version of ourselves than we were yesterday. In a culture that constantly encourages comparison, choosing to "run your own race" may be one of the most powerful antidotes to anxiety.

By Jane Barnfield Jukes, founder of The Practice

How The Practice Can Support You

At The Practice, our team of experienced psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists is dedicated to providing comprehensive support for individuals struggling with anxiety. We offer:

• Personalised Treatment Plans: We assess each individual’s unique challenges to develop tailored therapy plans that address specific concerns.

• Evidence-Based Therapies: Utilising proven therapeutic approaches such as CBT and MCT to ensure effective outcomes.

• Compassionate Support: Providing a safe and non-judgmental environment where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts and feelings.

• Flexible Scheduling: Offering appointment times that accommodate diverse lifestyles and commitments.

Taking the first step towards managing your anxiety is a courageous decision. With the right support and therapeutic interventions, it’s possible to reduce anxiety and improve your quality of life. If you’re ready to address your anxiety, the dedicated professionals at The Practice are here to guide and support you on your journey to well-being.

We have a wealth of well trained and experienced therapists at The Practice to help. Please feel free to contact us or call on 0333 0096 321 if you feel therapy can assist you.

 Footnotes

1. World Health Organization. Mental Disorders (2022).
2. Office for National Statistics. Personal Well-being Estimates in the UK (latest available edition).
3. Oliver James, Affluenza: How to Be Successful and Stay Sane (London: Vermilion, 2007), xvii.
4. Alain de Botton, Status Anxiety (London: Hamish Hamilton, 2004), Introduction.
5. Leon Festinger, "A Theory of Social Comparison Processes," Human Relations 7, no. 2 (1954): 117–140.
6. Kira E. Riehm et al., "Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth," JAMA Pediatrics. See also Odgers, C. & Jensen, M. (2020), Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, reviewing digital technology and adolescent mental health.
7. U.S. Surgeon General. Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory (2023).
8. Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation (New York: Penguin Press, 2024).
9. See, for example, Gordon J. G. Asmundson and Steven Taylor, Coronaphobia (2020); WHO (2022); OECD How's Life? reports; and Curran, T. & Hill, A. (2019), "Perfectionism Is Increasing Over Time," Psychological Bulletin.

Selected Bibliography

• Asmundson, Gordon J. G., and Steven Taylor. Coronaphobia: Fear and the 2019-nCoV Outbreak. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020.
• Curran, Thomas, and Andrew P. Hill. "Perfectionism Is Increasing Over Time." Psychological Bulletin 145, no. 4 (2019): 410–429.
• de Botton, Alain. Status Anxiety. London: Hamish Hamilton, 2004.
• Ehrmann, Max. Desiderata. 1927.
• Festinger, Leon. "A Theory of Social Comparison Processes." Human Relations 7, no. 2 (1954): 117–140.
• Haidt, Jonathan. The Anxious Generation. New York: Penguin Press, 2024.
• James, Oliver. Affluenza. London: Vermilion, 2007.
• James, Oliver. Britain on the Couch. London: Arrow Books, 1998.
• Kishimi, Ichiro, and Fumitake Koga. The Courage to Be Disliked. London: Atlantic Books, 2019.
• Office for National Statistics. Personal Well-being Estimates in the UK.
• Odgers, Candice L., and Michaeline R. Jensen. "Annual Research Review: Adolescent Mental Health in the Digital Age." Annual Review of Developmental Psychology 2 (2020): 143–168.
• U.S. Surgeon General. Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Advisory. Washington, DC, 2023.
• World Health Organization. Mental Disorders. Geneva: WHO, 2022.