Its culture profoundly influences a community’s social relationships to a significant degree. On the other hand, to comprehend the culture of a society, it is necessary to conduct research and become conversant with the cultural components that constitute that culture. A society’s way of life, including its values, institutions, and arts, is defined by several aspects collectively called culture (Esquivel et al., n.d.). These facets include values, conventions, symbols, language, and artefacts. Culture is passed down from one generation to the next. Differences in cultures present opportunities for diverse experiences, social contact between communities, and educational exploration of those cultural distinctions (Gopalkrishnan, 2018).
Festivals and other forms of c are essential in conveying the ideals of cultural redundancy and variety. They make it possible for society to tolerate and promote variety, foster complex and adaptive ways of thinking, and affect the viewpoints of society, which in turn makes it possible for members to learn new ways of doing things. In addition, they offer a venue for socializing, expand opportunities for participation, and stimulate academic pursuits. Celebrations and festivals encourage connectivity, creating new connections and rebuilding old connections that may have been damaged due to the great distances that separate individuals in a society (V T Nair et al., 2022).
The significance of festivals and celebrations for cultural expression and factors influencing depression rates can be explored using three social science resources. These sources include a chapter by Esquivel et al. on the importance of culture, an article by Gopalkrishnan (2018) on cultural diversity and mental health, and a study by Kim et al. on the importance of culturally meaningful activity for health benefits among older Korean immigrants. Because of their focus on how culture influences social interactions and how that, in turn, affects mental health, all of these materials are valuable and well-suited to the topic at hand. The research approach began with a search for scholarly articles that addressed the impact of culture on mental health and well-being. The selections were based on how valuable and informed the materials were.
Culture plays an essential part in the development of society, and the principles underlying social science can shed light on how the influence of culture manifests itself in interpersonal relationships and generations (Esquivel et al., n.d.). The following are the concepts of social science that are relevant to the discussion regarding the significance of festivals and celebrations for the manifestation of culture as well as the cultural elements that influence the prevalence of depression. The first principle of social science that may be applied to the significance of festivals and celebrations for cultural expression is preserving diversity while maximizing redundancy. The ability of communities to tolerate and encourage variety is facilitated through festivals and celebrations, which also allow people of different cultures to engage with one another and gain knowledge from one another. This approach facilitates cultural interaction, contributes to the maintenance of social cohesiveness, and allows individuals to acquire new skill sets.
The second principle of social science pertinent to the discussion on the significance of festivals and celebrations for cultural expression is the idea that it is important to encourage complex and flexible ways of thinking. Festivals and other public festivities can shift people’s viewpoints, resulting in a deeper comprehension of various cultural customs. In this context, it is also essential to consider the role of holidays and other types of celebrations in fostering education and socialization among people. Thirdly, cultural diversity and mental health are derived from social science that may be applied to the cultural elements influencing depression prevalence rates. Diversity of culture is essential in forming individuals’ perspectives towards their mental health and the coping strategies they employ. Individuals’ perspectives on mental health are profoundly influenced by culture; as a result, individuals may be dissuaded from seeking therapy due to cultural considerations such as the perception that they will be stigmatized for doing so. The people who would be interested in this issue include social scientists, psychologists, cultural anthropologists, mental health practitioners, policymakers, and members of the general public interested in understanding the impact that culture has on social interactions and mental health.
It is vital to ensure effective communication to tailor the message to the audience in question. For instance, decision-makers in government might be interested in the significance of cultural interchange and social cohesiveness as promoted through festivals and other types of festivities. On the other hand, mental health professionals may be interested in learning how cultural influences influence depression rates and the role culture plays in forming attitudes about mental health. Particular examples that can be utilized to personalize the message include emphasizing the role that festivals and celebrations play in promoting cultural interchange and social cohesiveness or how the attitudes of individuals toward mental health can be affected by cultural factors such as stigmatization.
In conclusion, the research suggests that culture is crucial in creating and sustaining societal norms and values. The diversity, complex adaptive thinking, learning, and connection fostered by festivals and celebrations are some of the many ways culture is expressed. Based on the investigations, a research question related to the issue of culture and mental health would be, “What cultural factors affect rates of depression, and how can these factors be addressed to improve mental health outcomes?” A social scientist researching this topic might use both methodologies. The social scientist would collect information about cultural ideas, values, and behaviours that impact depression rates through surveys and in-depth interviews. To further investigate the link between cultural influences and depression rates, the social scientist would also perform observational studies and examine current data. The next stage in answering this study question would be to determine which cultural interventions have the greatest impact on lowering depression rates and then design treatments suitable for people from those cultures.
References
Esquivel, K., Elam, E., Paris, J., & Tafoya, M. (n.d.). Chapter 12: The Importance of Culture. Wtcs.pressbooks.pub. https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/infanttoddlerdev/chapter/chapter-12-the-importance-of-culture/
Fancourt, D., & Finn, S. (2019). 1. INTRODUCTION. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. WHO Regional Office for Europe. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553776/
Gopalkrishnan, N. (2018). Cultural diversity and mental health: Considerations for policy and practice. Frontiers in Public Health, 6(179). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00179
Kim, J., Kim, M., Han, A., & Chin, S. (2015). The importance of culturally meaningful activity for health benefits among older Korean immigrants in the United States. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 10(1), 27501. https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.27501
V T Nair, Dr. B., & N, A. (2022). Socio-cultural and Economic Impacts of Religious Festivals on Sustainable Local Community Livelihoods in Kerala: The Case of Palakkad. International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.21427/sy7k-sg89
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