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An epidemiological study of mental health and socioeconomic conditions in Sumatera, Indonesia
Author(s) -
Bahar E.,
Henderson A. S.,
Mackin A. J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1992.tb01466.x
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , epidemiology , environmental health , mental health , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , population , pathology
A mental health survey was conducted in Palembang, Indonesia, to test the hypothesis that rapid socioeconomic and cultural change is detrimental to mental health. The 30‐item General Health Questionnaire, translated into Bahasa Indonesia, was administered to a probability sample of 1670 adults (94.9% of the target sample). The Present State Examination was conducted on a weighted subsample of 100, using a 2‐phase design. Overall morbidity rates were surprisingly similar to those in industrialized countries. A strong association was found between psychological symptoms and poverty. Persons belonging to communities that had progressed substantially in standards of living had fewer symptoms. The evidence points to a possibly beneficial effect of economic progress on mental health. Longitudinal data are needed to confirm this.