TY - JOUR
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Arabs
KW - Depressive Disorder/epidemiology
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Life Change Events
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Patient Acceptance of Health Care
KW - Prevalence
KW - Primary Health Care
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Socioeconomic Factors
KW - United Arab Emirates/epidemiology
AU - A. Hamdan
AU - S. Hawamdeh
AU - A. Hussein
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Depression is one of most common mental illnesses in the world, with a high prevalence in primary health care settings. Some research has been conducted in the Arab region, but this research has been limited. This study investigated the prevalence of depression in a primary health care setting in the United Arab Emirates as well as possible socio-demographic and stressful life event correlates of depression. METHODS: Arabic versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a Stressful Life Events Inventory, and socio-demographic form were used for the study. Data were collected from 224 Arab women, aged 18 and above, in the primary health care centers of Sharjah, using a convenience sampling method. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of women were found to be either moderately (14.7%) or severely (18%) depressed. The following socio-demographic variables were found to be correlated with scores on the BDI (p < .05): marital status (being single, widowed or divorced), working status (working full- or part-time), and family income (lower family income). The number of stressful life events that a woman had experienced in the past year was also correlated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms are common in women attending primary health care centers in the Emirate of Sharjah. Stressful life events, in particular, are related to the level of depressive symptoms experienced by these women. It will be important to consider the social, psychological, and economic variables that impact emotional health in the region. This research is considered to be an initial step in developing prevention and intervention programs to address the mental health needs of Arab women.
BT - International journal of psychiatry in medicine
C5 - Healthcare Disparities
CP - 4
CY - United States
IS - 4
JF - International journal of psychiatry in medicine
N2 - BACKGROUND: Depression is one of most common mental illnesses in the world, with a high prevalence in primary health care settings. Some research has been conducted in the Arab region, but this research has been limited. This study investigated the prevalence of depression in a primary health care setting in the United Arab Emirates as well as possible socio-demographic and stressful life event correlates of depression. METHODS: Arabic versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a Stressful Life Events Inventory, and socio-demographic form were used for the study. Data were collected from 224 Arab women, aged 18 and above, in the primary health care centers of Sharjah, using a convenience sampling method. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of women were found to be either moderately (14.7%) or severely (18%) depressed. The following socio-demographic variables were found to be correlated with scores on the BDI (p < .05): marital status (being single, widowed or divorced), working status (working full- or part-time), and family income (lower family income). The number of stressful life events that a woman had experienced in the past year was also correlated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms are common in women attending primary health care centers in the Emirate of Sharjah. Stressful life events, in particular, are related to the level of depressive symptoms experienced by these women. It will be important to consider the social, psychological, and economic variables that impact emotional health in the region. This research is considered to be an initial step in developing prevention and intervention programs to address the mental health needs of Arab women.
PP - United States
PY - 2008
SN - 0091-2174; 0091-2174
SP - 453
EP - 467
EP - 
T1 - The prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among Arab women in a primary health care setting
T2 - International journal of psychiatry in medicine
TI - The prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among Arab women in a primary health care setting
U1 - Healthcare Disparities
U2 - 19480358
VL - 38
VO - 0091-2174; 0091-2174
Y1 - 2008
ER -