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The Impact of Spousal Migration on the Mental Health of Nepali Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Nirmal Aryal

    (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LH, UK)

  • Pramod R. Regmi

    (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LH, UK
    Chitwan Medical College, Tribhuvan University, Bharatpur P.O. Box No. 42, Nepal
    Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha 442001, India)

  • Edwin van Teijlingen

    (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LH, UK
    Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu P.O. Box No. 15201, Nepal
    Nobel College, Pokhara University, Kathmandu GPO 10420, Nepal)

  • Steven Trenoweth

    (Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH1 3LH, UK)

  • Pratik Adhikary

    (School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, USA
    Green Tara Nepal, Kathmandu GPO 9874, Nepal)

  • Padam Simkhada

    (Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu P.O. Box No. 15201, Nepal
    Nobel College, Pokhara University, Kathmandu GPO 10420, Nepal
    School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK)

Abstract

Spousal separation, lack of companionship, and increased household responsibilities may trigger mental health problems in left-behind female spouses of migrant workers. This study aimed to examine mental ill-health risk in the left-behind female spouses of international migrant workers in Nepal. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the Nawalparasi district. Study areas were purposively chosen; however, participants were randomly selected. Nepali versions of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used. Mental ill-health risk was prevalent in 3.1% of the participants as determined by GHQ. BDI identified mild or moderate depression in 6.5% of the participants with no one having severe depression. In bivariate analysis, a high frequency of communication with the husband was associated with lower mental ill-health risk and depression, as well as increasing resilience. Reduced return intervals of husbands and a high frequency of remittance were also associated with a low GHQ score. In a multiple regression model, adjusting for potential confounding variables, participants who communicated with their husbands at least once a day had a greater mean CD-RISC score (i.e., high resilience against mental ill-health risk) compared to those who did so at least once a week; a mean difference of 3.6 (95% CI 0.4 to 6.9), P = 0.03. To conclude, a low mental ill-health risk was found in the female spouses of migrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Nirmal Aryal & Pramod R. Regmi & Edwin van Teijlingen & Steven Trenoweth & Pratik Adhikary & Padam Simkhada, 2020. "The Impact of Spousal Migration on the Mental Health of Nepali Women: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1292-:d:321745
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Artjoms Ivlevs & Milena Nikolova & Carol Graham, 2019. "Emigration, remittances, and the subjective well-being of those staying behind," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(1), pages 113-151, January.
    2. Hom Gartaula & Leontine Visser & Anke Niehof, 2012. "Socio-Cultural Dispositions and Wellbeing of the Women Left Behind: A Case of Migrant Households in Nepal," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 108(3), pages 401-420, September.
    3. Graham, Elspeth & Jordan, Lucy P. & Yeoh, Brenda S.A., 2015. "Parental migration and the mental health of those who stay behind to care for children in South-East Asia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 225-235.
    4. Nobles, Jenna & Rubalcava, Luis & Teruel, Graciela, 2015. "After spouses depart: Emotional wellbeing among nonmigrant Mexican mothers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 236-244.
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