title: Frequent mental distress, chronic conditions, and adverse health behaviors in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, Jordan, 2007.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence indicates that chronic diseases and mental illness are associated. In the Middle Eastern country of Jordan, chronic diseases and frequent mental distress (FMD) are increasing; however, the capacity for mental health care is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the association between FMD, chronic conditions, and adverse health behaviors in Jordan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The third cycle of the Jordan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (2007) served as the data source for this study. The sample consisted of 3,612 noninstitutionalized Jordanian adults aged 18 years or older. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios for the association between chronic conditions, health behaviors, and FMD adjusted for age, sex, marital status, education, income, and employment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the adjusted models, people with hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-2.7), high cholesterol (AOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.2), diabetes (AOR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4), and asthma (AOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.1) and smokers (AOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0) were more likely to have FMD than people without each of these conditions. Adults who reported vigorous physical activity were less likely to have FMD (AOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9) than their less active counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Jordan, FMD was associated with several chronic conditions. As a result, we suggest additional research to examine the complex relationship between FMD and chronic conditions. More doctors in the primary health care system should be trained in mental health.
authors: Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan. mohannadnsour973@yahoo.com
authors: Mohannad
authors: M
authors: Al-Nsour
authors: Meyasser
authors: M
authors: Zindah
authors: Adel
authors: A
authors: Belbeisi
authors: Italia V
authors: IV
authors: Rolle
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Walke
authors: Tara
authors: T
authors: Strine
authors: Geraldine S
authors: GS
authors: Perry
authors: Bassam
authors: B
authors: Jarrar
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Mokdad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
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