On the way to Greatist HQ this morning I said hello to my favorite subway rat, walked through a cloud of meat-on-a-stick smoke, then nearly fell into an open sidewalk grate trying to skirt around a pile of human vomit. It was a typical day at work in New York City.
As it turns out, my frantic and malodorous experiences may be a typical part of urban living. Research suggests city life may actually cause more stress than living in other environmentsCity living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans Lederbogen, F., Kirsch, P., Haddad, L., et al. Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. Nature 2011; 474(7342):498-501.. (My rodent friend agrees — it’s hard knocks looking for stale pretzels on the subway tracks.) So is it time to swap those skyscrapers for a quiet cottage by the sea?
More Urban, More Problems — Why It Matters
Photo by Jordan Shakeshaft
While modern life seems to sling stress our way, there’s evidence that cities present stressors above and beyond those present in rural and suburban livingCity living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans Lederbogen, F., Kirsch, P., Haddad, L., et al. Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. Nature 2011; 474(7342):498-501.. Multiple studies have linked city life to a higher occurrence of mental health issues, from anxiety disorders to aggression. (Road rage, anyone?)Urban-rural mental health differences in great Britain: findings from the national morbidity survey. Paykel, E.S., Abbott, R., Jenkins, R. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Psychological medicine 2011; 30(2):269-80.Is the prevalence of psychiatric disorders associated with urbanization? Peen, J., Dekker, J., Schoevers, R.A. JellinekMentrum Mental Health Institute Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Germany. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 2007; 42(12): 984-9.. In countries with a high standard of living, city residents are as much as 21 percent more likely to develop chronic anxiety than rural dwellersThe current status of urban-rural differences in psychiatric disorders Peen, J., Schoevers, R.A., Beekman, A.T. Actia Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2010; 121(2):84-93.. And even if urbanites hightail it to the nearest patch of green, there’s a chance the stress could follow. There’s evidence that in some residents, city living may even alter the brain to process stress less effectivelyCity living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans Lederbogen, F., Kirsch, P., Haddad, L., et al. Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany. Nature 2011; 474(7342):498-501.!
While cities could mean more stress, rural life isn’t always a breeze. Country living brings its own unique stressors — farmers, for example, are especially prone to psychological distress due to drought or other natural eventsSocial networks and mental health among a farming population. Stain, H.J., Kelly, B., Lewin, T. J., Higginbotham, N. Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Bloomfield Hospital, Orange, NSW, Australia. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology 2008; 43(10): 843-849.. And even when rural residents face tough times, they could be less likely than city dwellers to seek mental helpService use of rural and urban Medicaid beneficiaries suffering from depression: the role of supply. Lambert, D., Agger, M., Hartley, D. Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Oregon. Journal of Rural Health 1999; 15(3): 344-355.. Swamped city-dwellers might actually have an easier time opening up and sending out the S.O.S. (Stop Our Stress!)
Luckily, it’s possible to fight stress before it takes its full toll, no matter where we live. Try these tips for a less-stressed urban life. (They work outside the city, too!)
Go green. If the nearest patch of grass is covered in canine excrement, it might help to bring nature indoors. Research suggests workers who have potted plants on their desk are more productive and get sick less often.
Walk (or bike) it out. Beyond pollution and blaring sirens, the commute alone can be a huge source of stress in citiesRail commuting duration and passenger stress. Evans, G.W., Wener, R.E. Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Health Psychology 2006;25(3):408-412.. If possible, skip the subway or bus and walk or bike to work instead. You’ll not only get the benefits of exercise, but you’ll help save the planet, too.
Get professional help. If these tips aren’t doing the trick, it might be worth trying therapy. A mental health professional can help figure out the best way to combat city stress.
Are you a city slicker or a country kid? How do you deal with stress where you live? Tell us in the comments below!
