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Do you let me symptomatize? The potential role of cultural values in cross-national variability of mental disorders’ prevalence

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  • Máté Kapitány-Fövény
  • Mara J Richman
  • Zsolt Demetrovics
  • Mihály Sulyok

Abstract

Background: Mental disorders may show inherent cross-national variability in their prevalence. A considerable number of meta-analyses attribute this heterogeneity to the methodological diversity in published epidemiological studies. Cultural values are characteristically not assessed in meta-regression models as potential covariates. Aim: Our aim was to conduct a meta-regression analysis to explore to what extent certain cultural values and immigration rates (as indicator of cultural diversity) might be associated with the cross-national heterogeneity of prevalence rates. Method: To minimize methodological differences that may exert a confounding effect, prevalence rates were obtained from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Cultural indices (overall emancipative values; overall secular values) were collected from the World Value Survey, while immigration rates were registered by utilizing the data of the United Nations’ World Population Policies 2005 report. Results: Meta-regression analysis indicated that overall emancipative values (i.e. promoting self-expression, non-violent protest) showed significant connection with lifetime and last year prevalence of any mood disorders ( Z  = 4.71, p  = .001; Z  = 2.35, p  = .02) and any internalizing disorders (a merged category that combined mood and anxiety disorders; Z  = 2.82, p  = .004; Z  = 2.34, p  = .02). Overall secular values (i.e. rejecting authority and obedience) were negatively associated with last year prevalence of depression ( Z  = −2.75, p  = .06). Multistep regression analysis indicated that immigration rate moderated the connection between cultural values and mental disorders. Countries with higher immigration rates showed higher emancipative and secular values. Conclusion: Our findings might function as potential foundation for formulating hypotheses regarding the cultural context’s influence on the population’s mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Máté Kapitány-Fövény & Mara J Richman & Zsolt Demetrovics & Mihály Sulyok, 2018. "Do you let me symptomatize? The potential role of cultural values in cross-national variability of mental disorders’ prevalence," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(8), pages 756-766, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:64:y:2018:i:8:p:756-766
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764018811361
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heim, Eva & Wegmann, Iris & Maercker, Andreas, 2017. "Cultural values and the prevalence of mental disorders in 25 countries: A secondary data analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 96-104.
    2. Fearon, James D, 2003. "Ethnic and Cultural Diversity by Country," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 195-222, June.
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