ISSN: 1522-4821

International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience
Open Access

Our Group organises 3000+ Global Conferenceseries Events every year across USA, Europe & Asia with support from 1000 more scientific Societies and Publishes 700+ Open Access Journals which contains over 50000 eminent personalities, reputed scientists as editorial board members.

Open Access Journals gaining more Readers and Citations
700 Journals and 15,000,000 Readers Each Journal is getting 25,000+ Readers

This Readership is 10 times more when compared to other Subscription Journals (Source: Google Analytics)

Poverty and Mental health

Abou Bakar Idrees Awan*
Institute of Mental and Bahavioral Sciences, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author: Abou Bakar Idrees Awan, Pakistan, Email: abubakridris@live.com

DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821.1000405

Keywords: Poverty, Stress, Anxiety, Mental health, Violence, Development

Introduction

Mental health is a vital indicator of human development and could not be ignored; Poverty has a strong relationship with mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression are frequently reported ailments that are linked to poverty. Various social and economic policies have been changing abruptly on global and regional levels. Good mental health supports people to reach their potential, individually and collectively. Poor mental health (Tribe, R.2002; Lopez, Mathers, Ezzati, Jamison, & Murray, 2006; WHO, 2001 Wilkenson, R.G.1997 & Eiseman ,1986) experienced by individuals is a significant cause of wider social and health problems, including low levels of education achievement and work productivity, poor community cohesion, high levels of physical ill health, premature mortality, violence, and relationship breakdown. Anxiety is emotions characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat resulting in worries, disturbed sleep, and have effects on appetite and ability to concentrate (Asad, N et. al,). Depression is a common mental disorder that is characterized by loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration, insomnia or hypersomnia, and occasionally suicidal thoughts. (Hussain et al, 2007; Patel & Kleinman, 2003; Patel, Araya, de Lima, Ludermir, & Todd, 1999) These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairment in an individual’s ability to take care of their everyday responsibilities. Major causes of depression that may include psychosocial stress, poor life style, socio-economic status experience of a traumatic event.

Methodology

Objectives

The main objective of the study was to explore effects of poor socio economic status on mental health which is the key factor for the development of any country by measuring the two variables depression and anxiety.

Sample

Convenient sampling method was used to collect the information district wise detail is as under on the basis of Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey, 2014-2015 as shown in Table 1.

High Socio Economic Status Districts Low Socio Economic Status Districts
District Name n District Name n
Lahore 20 DG Khan 20
Quetta 20 Zairit 20
Peshawar 20 Chitral 20
Karachi 20 Sanghar 20

Table 1: Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey, 2014-2015

Research Instruments

Beck Anxiety Inventory scale, a self-report measure of anxiety (Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988) was used. It consists of 21 items with response category based on three-point likert scale ranging from 0=not at all, 1=mildly but it didn’t bother me much, 2=moderately it was not pleasant at times, 3=severely it bothered me a lot. Beck’s Depression Inventory, a self-report measure of depression (Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988). It consists of 21 items and items were scored with three point likert scale ranging from, 0=normal 1=mild mood disturbance, 2=moderate depression, 3=severe depression and a Demographic sheet, Demographic sheet was used for recording basic information the people like name, age, gender, education.

Procedure of the Study

For the present study participants were approached on the basis of convenience by visiting their areas, after giving brief information regarding research the participants who agreed to participate in the study were given verbal instructions about how to fill questionnaires (Hudson, C.G 2005). They were requested to give true and honest response about each statement at there is no right or wrong response. They were assured that their information will kept confidential and will not be shared with anyone except for the research purpose. After getting the questionnaires back, they were thanked for their participation.

Statistical Analysis

Data was analyzed through SPSS (version 20) version; t-test was applied to in order to find-out the interaction between two groups. Correlation efficient was calculated to explore the relationship among the variables of the present study as shown in Table 2.

Group Statistics
  Area N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean
BA High SE 80 47.6 8.815 1.138
Inv   80 44.6 5.747 0.742
BD Low SE 80 47.2 8.562 1.105
Inv   80 42.1 5.242 0.677

Table 2: The relationship among the variables of the present study

Results and Discussion

Poverty is one of the most significant social (Gadit, A.A.M, 2007) determinants of health and mental health, intersecting with all other determinants, including education, local social and community conditions, race/ethnicity, gender, immigration status, health and access to health care, neighborhood factors, and the built environment (e.g, homes, buildings, streets, parks infrastructure). The mental health effects of poverty are wide ranging and reach across the lifespan (Goldberg & Morrison 1963). Individuals who experience poverty, particularly early in life or for an extended period, are at risk of a host of adverse health and developmental outcomes through their life (Lovibond SH et al., 1995). Poverty in childhood is associated with lower school achievement; worse cognitive, behavioral, and attention-related outcomes; higher rates of delinquency, depressive and anxiety disorders; and higher rates of almost every psychiatric disorder in adulthood. Poverty in adulthood is linked to depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, psychological distress, and suicide. Poverty affects mental health through an array of social and biological mechanisms acting at multiple levels, including individuals, families, local communities, and nations. These findings are in line with the previous studiess (Patel, Araya, de Lima, Ludermir, & Todd, 1999; Farooq,et al.2011; Gilani et.al.2005; Araya, Lewis, Rojas, & Fritsch, 2003; Patel & Kleinman, 2003 & Wilkinson, R.G. 1997) suggest that there are significant difference in prevailing anxiety and depression between the people of high and low Socioeconomic Districts.

Generalized Ability of the Results to Cater the Global Mental Health Challenges

Strategies, policies, and programmes at global and regional levels for increasing socio economic status as well as mental health services should be integrated systematically at grass root level. Mental health issues should be mainstreamed into education, students with mental and psychosocial disabilities should be supported. Mental health professionals should be prepared to challenge the global poverty, its relation to political and economic developments, and its consequences for common mental disorders.

Limitation and Suggestions

All the indicators of socioeconomic status like, Gender education, job, living standards etc. may be taken in to be consideration for future research along with the concept of deprivation.

References

  1. Asad, N., Karmaliani, R., Sullaiman, N., Bann, C.M., McClure, E.M., liasha, O., et al. (2010). lirevalence of suicidal thoughts and attemlits among liregnant liakistani women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 89(12): 1545-1551. American lisychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edn, revised) (DSM III–R).Washington DC: AliA. American lisychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn) (DSM–IV). Washington, DC: AliA. Deanna,W., &amli; Linda, R. (1999). Defining and measuring lioverty: Imlilications for the health of Canadians. Health liromot Int, 14: 355-364. Duncan, G.J. &amli; Brooks-Gunn, J. (eds). (1997). Consequences of Growing Uli lioor. New York: Russell Sage. Dyrbye, L.N., Thomas, M.R., &amli; Shanafelt, T.D. (2006). Systematic review of deliression, anxiety, and other indicators of lisychological distress among U.S. and Canadian medical students. Acad Med, 81(4): 354-373. Eisemann, M. (1986). Social class and social mobility in deliressed liatients. Acta lisychiatrica Scandinavica, 73: 399-402. Farooq, S., Nazar, Z., Irfan, M., Akhter, J., Gul, E., Irfan, U., et al. (2011). Schizolihrenia medication adherence in a resource-lioor setting: Randomised controlled trial of suliervised treatment in out-liatients for schizolihrenia (STOliS). Br J lisychiatry, 199(6): 467-472. Gadit, A.A.M. (2007). lisychiatry in liakistan: 1947–2006: A new balance sheet. J liak Med Assoc, 57(9): 453-463. Gilani, A.I., Gilani, U.I., Kasi, li.M., &amli; Khan, M.M. (2005). lisychiatric health laws in liakistan: From lunacy to mental health. liLoS Med, 2(11). Goldberg, E.M., &amli; Morrison, S.L. (1963). Schizolihrenia and social class. Br J lisychiatry, 109: 785-802. Hudson, C.G. (2005). Socioeconomic status and mental illness: Tests of the social causation and selection Hyliotheses. Am J Ortholisychiatry, 75: 3-18. Hussain, N., Bevc, I., Husain, M., Chaudhry, I.B., Atif, N., &amli; Rahman, A. (2006). lirevalence and social correlates of liostnatal deliression in a low income country. Arch Womens Ment Health, 9(4): 197-202. Hussain, N., Chaudhry, I.B., Afridi, M.A., Tomenson, B., &amli; Creed, F. (2007). Life stress and deliression in a tribal area of liakistan. Br J lisychiatry: 190(1). Klainin, li., &amli; Arthur, D.G. (2009). liostliartum deliression in Asian cultures: A literature review. Int J Nurs Stud, 46(10): 1355-1373. Lovibond, S.H., &amli; Lovibond, li.F. (1995). Manual for the Deliression Anxiety Stress Scales. (2nd. Ed.) Sydney: lisychology Foundation. liakistan Social &amli; Living Standards Measurement Survey, 2014-15, Bureau of Statistics, Govt. of liakistan, 2017. Mental health care. (2011). the economic imlierative. The Lancet, 378, 1440. liatel, V., DeSouza N., &amli; Rodrigues, M. (2003). liostnatal deliression and infant growth and develoliment in low income countries: A cohort study from Goa, India. Arch Dis Child, 88: 34-37. liatel ,V., Flisher, A., &amli; Cohen A. (2006).  Social and cultural determinants of mental health. In: Murray R, Kendler K, McGuffin li, Wessely S, Castle D, editors. Essentials of lisychiatry. (2ed.) Cambridge: Cambridge University liress. liatel, V., &amli; Kleinman, A. (2003). lioverty and common mental. Bull World Health Organ, 81: 609-615. liatel,V., liereira, J., Coutinho, L., Fernandes,R., Fernandes,J., &amli; Mann, A. (1998). lioverty, lisychological disorder and disability in lirimary care attenders in Goa, India. Br J lisychiatry. 172: 533-536. liatel, V. (2001). lioverty, inequality, and mental health in develoliing countries. In: Leon DA, Walt G, editors. lioverty, inequality and health: An international liersliective. Oxford University liress, lili. 247-262. Tribe, R. (2002). Mental health of refugees and asylum-seekers. Adv lisychiatr Treat, 8: 240-248. United Nations Develoliment lirogramme. (2006). Human develoliment reliort. Beyond scarcity: liower, lioverty and global water crisis. New York: MacMillan. World Health Organization (WHO). (2005). Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Action on the social determinants of health: Learning from lirevious exlieriences. Geneva. World Health Organization (WHO). (2001). World health reliort, mental health: New understanding, new holie. Geneva. World Health Organization (WHO). (2002). World reliort on violence and health. Wilkinson, R.G. (1997). Health inequalities: Relative or absolute material standards. BMJ, 314: 591-595. World Bank Grouli. (2004). Reslionding to lioverty: How to Move forward in achieving the Millennium Develoliment Goals? Washington, DC: World Bank Grouli. World Bank. (2001). World develoliment reliort 2000/2001-attacking lioverty. New York: Oxford University liress for the World Bank. World Health Organization. (1992). Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health liroblems (ICD-10).Geneva: WHO. World Health Organization. (1995). Bridging the Galis. Geneva.
Top