Final Research Project - The American Dream

Key Questions

• How does the American Dream influence mental health?
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• Depression reduces motivation and decision-making ability (getting things done would be hard no matter how you classify the American Dream)
• When you are young it is hard to meet requirements for a good education
• In some cases, treatment can be necessary which leads to financial problems
• According to the WHO “depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide”
• What psychological and sociological factors impact an individual's ability to achieve the American Dream?
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• Pressures, keeping up, fitting in, and obtaining past lifestyles from growing up (this can give you drive or make you feel not good enough, like fear of failure)
• Some people want to make the most amount of money and live their dream lifestyle, leading to overworking and lack of life balance
• APA: “over 40% of Americans report stress related to financial goals”
• How do economic and social pressures shape well-being?
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• Lower-income people have limited access to mental health care (we need improvements because everyone should be able to get treatment)
• Discrimination and systemic barriers also contribute significantly

The American Dream & Mental Health

The American Dream can contribute to mental illness due to constant pressures to succeed and live up to societal standards. At the same time, mental health conditions such as depression can hinder people’s ability to pursue the American Dream because symptoms like lack of motivation reduce productivity and goal-directed behavior.

Crossovers

Economic Stressors → Anxiety & Depression

Social Comparison → Lower Self-Esteem (social media boom)

Isolation → Reduced Opportunity

Psychological & Sociological Effects

Psychological Effects: Burnout and identity crisis tied to material success.

Sociological Effects: Inequality, particularly among marginalized groups such as LGBTQ individuals.

Key Statistics

- 63% of people in the LGBTQ community reported feeling down or experiencing depression at least once a week.

Additional U.S. Mental Health Data

• NHANES 2021–2023: 13.1% of U.S. adolescents and adults reported depression in the past two weeks.
• 87.9% of those with depression reported at least some difficulty with work, home, or social activities.
• 31.2% reported extreme difficulty — directly undermining American Dream milestones like education, opportunity, and upward mobility.
• Income impact:
  • Below poverty level: 22.1% depression rate
  • At or above 400% of federal poverty level: 7.4% depression rate
• Gender differences:
  • Females: 16.0%
  • Males: 10.1%
• Age patterns:
  • Adolescents (12–19): 19.2%
  • Adults 60+: 8.7%
• Trend: Depression prevalence has increased by 60% over the past decade.

Class Plays & Their Connections

• Fences: Race and socioeconomic status
• Angels in America: Sexuality and societal approval
• Hamilton: Opportunity vs. pressure
• August: Osage County: Family dynamics, happiness, and health