Consumer Culture and Depression

Is our consumer culture leading to depression? Some psychologists believe that it is. They point to studies which clearly show that the more people value material goals, the lower their happiness and life satisfaction. Depression, anxiety and substance abuse  rank higher among people who base their happiness on their ability to gain material things.

Anyone who has gone on a “retail therapy” shopping trip knows exactly what I’m talking about. There is a short-lived bubble burst of joy when you acquire some “thing” new. Then the bubble disappears and the realization that the new “thing” didn’t solve the unhappy, empty feeling that led to the shopping trip sets in. This realization is horrible, depressing and anxiety-provoking. It leads, inevitably, to the thought that something else “new” would be a better cure for the empty feeling and so the cycle starts all over again with yet another “retail therapy” shopping trip.

Do you know of any countries in the world today where there is no consumer culture? If you do, how does their happiness compare to ours?