K Megan Collier1, Bahr Weiss2, Amie Pollack1, Trung Lam3. 1. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Way, Nashville, TN, USA. 2. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Way, Nashville, TN, USA. Bahr.Weiss@Vanderbilt.edu. 3. Danang Psychiatric Hospital, 193 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Danang, Vietnam.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals include gender equality for women, including health, as one of seventeen targets. Within this broad domain, a wide range of research indicates that being female is associated with increased risk for mental health problems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). What is less clear are the trans-diagnostic demographic and environmental risk factors in LMIC that may underlie this increased risk. The purpose of the present study was to identify socio-economic and related disadvantages potentially underlying increased risk for women for mental health-related problems in the Southeast Asian LMIC of Vietnam. METHODS: Nine hundred and seventy-seven adults were randomly selected from five provinces in central coastal Vietnam. Individuals were assessed cross-sectionally for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PDS), somatic syndrome (SCL-90-R), alcohol dependence (ICD-10), functional impairment (PDS life functioning section), and self-perceived general physical health (SF-36). Trans-diagnostic risk factors assessed included financial stress, education level, exposure to traumatic events, and others. RESULTS: At the multivariate level, gender explained approximately 5% of the variance in mental health symptoms, with women significantly higher in all mental health domains except alcohol dependency. The trans-diagnostic risk factors explained slightly over half of this variance, with financial stress and lower education levels the two strongest individual explanatory variables for women's increased risk for mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that support for gender equality including in regard to economic stability and education may be critical for reducing broad gender disparities in mental health functioning.
PURPOSE: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals include gender equality for women, including health, as one of seventeen targets. Within this broad domain, a wide range of research indicates that being female is associated with increased risk for mental health problems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). What is less clear are the trans-diagnostic demographic and environmental risk factors in LMIC that may underlie this increased risk. The purpose of the present study was to identify socio-economic and related disadvantages potentially underlying increased risk for women for mental health-related problems in the Southeast Asian LMIC of Vietnam. METHODS: Nine hundred and seventy-seven adults were randomly selected from five provinces in central coastal Vietnam. Individuals were assessed cross-sectionally for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PDS), somatic syndrome (SCL-90-R), alcohol dependence (ICD-10), functional impairment (PDS life functioning section), and self-perceived general physical health (SF-36). Trans-diagnostic risk factors assessed included financial stress, education level, exposure to traumatic events, and others. RESULTS: At the multivariate level, gender explained approximately 5% of the variance in mental health symptoms, with women significantly higher in all mental health domains except alcohol dependency. The trans-diagnostic risk factors explained slightly over half of this variance, with financial stress and lower education levels the two strongest individual explanatory variables for women's increased risk for mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that support for gender equality including in regard to economic stability and education may be critical for reducing broad gender disparities in mental health functioning.
Authors: Wolfram Alexis Brandt; Thomas Loew; Friedrich von Heymann; Godehard Stadtmüller; Alexander Georgi; Michael Tischinger; Frederik Strom; Friederike Mutschler; Karin Tritt Journal: Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol Date: 2015-04-28
Authors: Catherine Porter; Marta Favara; Annina Hittmeyer; Douglas Scott; Alan Sánchez Jiménez; Revathi Ellanki; Tassew Woldehanna; Le Thuc Duc; Michelle G Craske; Alan Stein Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-04-15 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Thao Thi Phuong Nguyen; Tham Thi Nguyen; Vu Trong Anh Dam; Thuc Thi Minh Vu; Hoa Thi Do; Giang Thu Vu; Anh Quynh Tran; Carl A Latkin; Brian J Hall; Roger C M Ho; Cyrus S H Ho Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-09-02