Abstract
BackgroundWe examined the mental health status and severity of psychological distress symptoms among young adults residing in Kabul, Afghanistan and determined how such outcomes might be influenced by an array of risk and protective factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was adopted using convenience, snowball, and street-intercept recruitment techniques. Surveys were completed by 232 young adults between 18 and 35 years of age in September 2015. We used both etic (mental health component of the SF-8) and emic (Afghan Symptom Checklist) measures of mental health and psychological distress, respectively, and regressed these outcome measures against socio-demographic, physical health, and psychological variables (resilience, hope-optimism) using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression methods.ResultsWe found that poor mental health is common in this sample, affecting 75% of participants; and, that distress symptoms (depressive, anxiety, and somatoform symptoms) occur often. Regression models were consistent in showing higher education as a risk-factor for both outcomes, whereas, age, ethnicity, and income significantly contributed only to the ASCL model as risk-factors. However, both outcomes were strongly influenced by protective factors such as good physical health status and higher perceived hope-optimism.ConclusionsOur study provides further evidence of how current economic conditions in Kabul contribute to poor mental health and symptom severity, but also show how positive physical health and perceived hope-optimism can be protective. This study provides support for developing culturally-competent policies and interventions that build on protective factors.
Highlights
We examined the mental health status and severity of psychological distress symptoms among young adults residing in Kabul, Afghanistan and determined how such outcomes might be influenced by an array of risk and protective factors
The present study examines the mental health of young adults between 18 and 35 years of age residing in Kabul, a setting that typifies Galea et al.’s [13] characterization of adverse urban environments known for concentrated disadvantage, crime, and a myriad of other factors that perpetuate chronic psychological and physiological stress
In conclusion, our research shows that young adults in Kabul present with poor mental health status and distress symptoms as a result of a number of social factors rooted in the country’s current conditions
Summary
We examined the mental health status and severity of psychological distress symptoms among young adults residing in Kabul, Afghanistan and determined how such outcomes might be influenced by an array of risk and protective factors. War has a catastrophic effect on the health and well-being of nations by fragmenting communities and families, disrupting social and economic development, and by bringing long-term physical and psychological harm to children and adults [1]. This is epitomized in Afghanistan, a country ranking among the lowest (169 out of 188 countries) on the human development index [2] and where approximately. More recent studies show that mental health problems for Afghans are not solely rooted in traumatic experiences Rather, they are largely influenced by poor living conditions associated with a broken economy and poor governance [6]. Miller and Rasmussen [7] show that less than 15% of the variance in levels of PTSD symptoms are accounted for by war exposure, while
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