Afghan Refugee Explanatory Models of Depression: Exploring Core Cultural Beliefs and Gender Variations.
Relatively little empirical attention has been paid to understanding how refugees conceptualize depression and how this concept varies between genders. The purpose of this study was to explore beliefs about depression among Afghans residing in San Diego County, California, using cultural consensus analysis. Using the prescribed mixed-method approach, we employed results from in-depth interviews to develop a culturally meaningful questionnaire about depression. Consensus analysis of responses to questionnaire items from 93 Afghans (50 men, 43 women) indicates shared beliefs that associates depression causality with mild traumatic experiences and post-resettlement stressors, symptomatology to include culturally salient idioms of distress, and treatment selections ranging from lay techniques to professional care. Divergence between genders occurred most in the symptoms subdomain, with women associating depression with more somatic items. This study contributes to understanding the etiology of and cultural responses to depression among this population, which is critical to improving culturally sensitive intervention for Afghan refugees.
Department of Social Work and Social Ecology, School of Behavioral Health.
Qais
Q
Alemi
Department of Family Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
Susan C
SC
Weller
Department of Social Work and Social Ecology & Behavioral Health Institute, Loma Linda University.
Susanne
S
Montgomery
Department of Social Work and Social Ecology, Loma Linda University.
Sigrid
S
James
D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060432:Anthropology, Medical; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Afghan; beliefs; cultural consensus; depression; explanatory model