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More details on the study from NewScientist [1] They analysed data from a long-running study of almost 10,000 people across the UK who were born in November 19
by jjp 10y ago
More details on the study from NewScientist [1]
They analysed data from a long-running study of almost 10,000 people across the UK who were born in November 1958.
They found that 28 per cent of the study’s participants had been involved in the Scouts or Guides, and that these were 15 per cent less likely to suffer from anxiety or mood disorders at the age of 50 than their peers who didn’t join.
Scouts or Guides were not more likely to come from families of any particular social status.
However, people from poorer backgrounds do have a relatively higher likelihood of mental illness – but this effect seemed to be reduced or even removed in those who attended Scouts or Guides.
[1] https://www.newscientist.com/article/2112209-scouts-and-guides-grow-up-to-have-better-mental-health-at-age-50/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2112209-scouts-and-guid...
Submitter but not involved in the study
- moyta 10y agoPart of it is you are forced to work through those kinds of issues in a hostile environment (outdoors, in the cold & wet with raccoons, bears, etc depending where your at) with other kids who are apt to get on your nerves after a while. Either you come out a more rounded person who can deal with shit blowing up in your face & making something amazing out of said explosion, or you stop showing up to go on monthly outings.
- verbify 10y agoJust a note, it appears this was conducted in the UK which doesn't have a bear population, and barely has a raccoon population.
- JoeAltmaier 10y agoMost states in the US have no bears. Even California, which has a Grizzly on their state flag, has the joke "There is one more bear on the state flag that there is in the state of California"
- dragonwriter 10y agoThe joke is specifically about Grizzly/brown bears. There are definitely black bears in California.
- moyta 10y agoYeah, I've only had to interact with bears in Alaska thus far thankfully.
- redcalx 10y agoThere is a selection bias issue here. E.g. if there were some underling genetic disorder that causes anxiety, then that person is less likely to join a group.
- moyta 10y agoEh, I would say most new scouts are pretty anxious, and they also potentially come with other issues like asthma that likes to flare up, seizures, diabetes, etc. having had to deal with patrol members with these issues, sometimes 2 having one of these issues at the same time out of a group of 6 or 7. Generally you deal with it as quickly & safely as possible, get the rest of your patrol to rally and do what is needed to get said person into a stable state, while sending one member to alert your assistant scoutmaster so that further help can be at the ready. That doesn't mean you get to shirk off and not go get his asthma meds, or get the guy with hypothermia some wool clothing and figure out a way to get him warmed up in short order (throw 3 people in a sleeping bag, or a warm (but not hot!) shower if you are lucky to have one). If there is one thing I learned, Cotton Kills! (referencing its heat wicking effect when wet)
- redcalx 10y agoYou're conflating 'experiencing anxiety' with 'some underlying condition that increases the tendency to experience anxiety (and it's severity)'. The first cohort is a subgroup of the second. Or just switch anxiety for depression - i.e. everyday depression and 'clinical' depression are not the same thing.
- moyta 10y agoNo, I can definitely tell the difference between the two, I was just trying to give an example of what I experienced in scouting in the US.
- theoh 10y agoOn "Cotton Kills", George Boole (of Boolean algebra) died of pneumonia brought on by his wife's superstitious belief that wet bedsheets were the best cure for a chill that was caused by being caught in the rain.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]