title: An epidemiological study of mental health and socioeconomic conditions in Sumatera, Indonesia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sriwijaya, Palembang, Indonesia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012922:Social Change; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors