Young People's Use of Earphones as a Risk Factor for Depression

The Young People's Use of Earphones as a Risk Factor for Depression
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The Young people's Use of Earphones as a Risk Factor for Depression
People in society have different habits that change depending on the environment to which one has been exposed. It is always a trend among the youth to use earphones in most cases, causing significant discussions. The use of earphones interrupts the aspect of social interactions, thus, making it hard to use earphones. The increased use of earphones by young people is attributed to various factors, such as the need to avoid interruptions and stay tuned to particular updates depending on their line of interest. This increase in earphone use is due to factors including the increasing popularity of portable music players, smartphones, and the increasing use of social media. Sometimes, young people use earphones to adhere to fashion where there are new technological advancements associated with earphones that they have to try. Hence, it becomes a fashion always to have earphones on; little do they know they have detrimental impacts on their health. According to "Headphones & hearing loss" (2018), there are high chances of young people suffering from depression or tinnitus due to excessive use of earphones. A study by Foundation (2017) showed that youths aged 25 years were more into risky music-listening behaviors using earphones. This risky listening of music meant that earphones increased the risk of damaging the eardrum due to the high volume and closeness of the music. Therefore, excessive usage of earphones creates a significant issue of causing depression since permanent hearing loss increases isolation.
Typically, youth people are known to be social since they have the energy to interact with their peers. So, when one suffers permanent hearing loss, it becomes difficult to cope with the new struggles since they have to learn sign language and even engage in more counseling sessions (Ullian, 2022). It also becomes difficult to interact efficiently with their peers, making them feel uncomfortable and isolated. The struggle to cope with such problems leads to depression. The high tendency to use earphones can be harmful and contribute to depression because they block out external noise and distractions, making it easier for people to focus on their thoughts. When young people use earphones, they are more likely to experience symptoms of depression, such as negative mood, fatigue, and social withdrawal ("OUP accepted manuscript," 2016). They are also more likely to have higher anxiety and stress levels since they become anti-social due to continued concentration on personal issues propagated by the environment created by earphones.
Excessive usage of earphones could be explained as an addictive behavior attracting depression and is defined using the 'vicious cycle' metaphor. This metaphor suggests that earphones can lead to mental health problems, leading to more earphone use and creating a spiral of decline (Twenge, 2019). Here, an individual uses earphones, which contributes to mental instability. Therefore, one develops a tendency of isolation, which contributes to more earphone usage, hence an increase...