Arab Men and Women ’s Conceptualization of Mental Health and Depression: A Qualitative Study from the Middle East

AbstractCardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Among cardiovascular patients, depression is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Understanding how depression is conceptualized from cardiovascular patients ’ perspective can help with prevention, early detection, and treatment for depression. This might reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and save health care costs. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the Gulf region exploring depression among Arab cardiovascular patients. T he purpose of this exploratory ethnographic qualitative research is to investigate how Arab male and female patients with cardiovascular disease conceptualize mental health and depression. Two theoretical frameworks guided this research: (1) The Ecological Perspective, and (2) Kleinman’s Explanato ry Model of Health and Illness. Using maximum variation purposive sampling, thirty (30) male and twenty-five (25) female, self-identified, Arab cardiovascular patients were recruited as research participants. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Themat ic analysis was performed to generate themes. Nvivo 10, a qualitative data analysis software, was used to organize the narrative data. The participants in this study placed great emphasis on the manifestations of mental illness and their impact on both themselves and their families. Four major theme s were identified from their narratives: psycho...
Source: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research