Stephan Bongard1, Motohiro Nakajima2, Mustafa al'Absi2. 1. Dept. of Psychology Goethe-University Frankfurt, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz, PEG, 60323 Frankfurt am Main Germany.. Electronic address: bongard@psych.uni-frankfurt.de. 2. University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Duluth, MN, USA.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Khat (Catha edulis, Forsk) is a drug widely used in countries around the Red Sea (East-Africa and Arabian Peninsula). In Germany khat chewing is illegal but nevertheless an often observed habit in immigrants from this region. This study investigates the interrelation between immigrants acculturation processes and traditional khat chewing habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one khat chewers (14 female) from East-African countries were interviewed about their khat chewing habits and acculturation strategy using standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: Results indicate that immigrants׳ khat chewing behaviors are similar to what is common in countries with traditional khat use. But khat chewing tended to be less among immigrants who were relatively more oriented towards their cultures of origin. Chewing khat was subjectively considered to help coping with problems, to forget bad memories and to concentrate better. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that khat chewing serves a functional use of coping with stressful events in the present or in the past within this sample.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Khat (Catha edulis, Forsk) is a drug widely used in countries around the Red Sea (East-Africa and Arabian Peninsula). In Germany khat chewing is illegal but nevertheless an often observed habit in immigrants from this region. This study investigates the interrelation between immigrants acculturation processes and traditional khat chewing habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one khat chewers (14 female) from East-African countries were interviewed about their khat chewing habits and acculturation strategy using standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: Results indicate that immigrants׳ khat chewing behaviors are similar to what is common in countries with traditional khat use. But khat chewing tended to be less among immigrants who were relatively more oriented towards their cultures of origin. Chewing khat was subjectively considered to help coping with problems, to forget bad memories and to concentrate better. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that khat chewing serves a functional use of coping with stressful events in the present or in the past within this sample.
Authors: Desta Woldetsadik; Marcel Pierre Simon; Dennis Knuth; Hillette Hailu; Araya Gebresilassie; Asmare Dejen; Rolf-Alexander Düring Journal: Environ Geochem Health Date: 2021-02-17 Impact factor: 4.609