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Resilience and anxiety or depression among resettled Bhutanese adults in the United States

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  • Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar
  • Genevieve E Chandler
  • Cynthia S Jacelon
  • Bhuwan Gautam
  • Elizabeth R Bertone-Johnson
  • Steven D Hollon

Abstract

Background: Resilience, or an individual’s positive response in managing life’s adversities, is of increasing interest in addressing the mental health disparities in refugees. Although the link between stressful life events and poor mental health is established, research on the role of resilience on the mental health of refugees is limited. Aims: This study assessed the association between resilience and anxiety or depression in resettled Bhutanese adults in Western Massachusetts. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 225 Bhutanese (men: 113, women: 112) refugees aged 20–65 residing in Massachusetts. Resilience was measured with the 25-item Wagnild and Young’s Resilience Scale including two constructs as follows: a 17-item ‘personal competence’ that measures self-reliance, independence, determination, resourcefulness, mastery and perseverance and an 8-item ‘acceptance of self and life’ that measures adaptability, flexibility and a balanced perspective of life. Higher total scores indicate greater resilience. The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 was used to measure anxiety (10-item) and depression (15-item) with a cutoff mean score of ⩾1.75 for moderate to severe symptoms. Associations of resilience with anxiety or depression scores were assessed using multiple-linear and logistic regression analyses. Results: The proportion of participants with above threshold anxiety and depression were 34.2% and 24%, respectively. Resilience was inversely associated with both anxiety (beta for 1 unit change in resilience scores: β = −0.026; p  = .037) and depression (β = −0.036, p  = .041). ‘Personal competence’ resilience was inversely associated with both anxiety (β = −0.041 p  = .017) and depression (β = −0.058, p  = .019), but ‘acceptance of self and life’ resilience was not. Participants with the highest tertile of resilience scores had a significantly decreased risk of anxiety (ORs (95% CI): 0.13 (0.04–0.40)) and depression (0.16 (0.04–0.60)). Conclusion: Higher resilience was associated with reduced anxiety and depression among Bhutanese with personal competence resilience accounting for most of the effects. These findings suggest the potential targets for mental-health intervention to improve resilience in refugees.

Suggested Citation

  • Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar & Genevieve E Chandler & Cynthia S Jacelon & Bhuwan Gautam & Elizabeth R Bertone-Johnson & Steven D Hollon, 2019. "Resilience and anxiety or depression among resettled Bhutanese adults in the United States," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 65(6), pages 496-506, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:65:y:2019:i:6:p:496-506
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764019862312
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kee-Lee Chou, 2000. "Brief Report the Utilization of Health Care Services and Social Services By Neurotic Patients and Their Service Need," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 46(4), pages 237-240, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Catharina Zehetmair & Valentina Zeyher & Anna Cranz & Beate Ditzen & Sabine C. Herpertz & Rupert Maria Kohl & Christoph Nikendei, 2021. "A Walk-In Clinic for Newly Arrived Mentally Burdened Refugees: The Patient Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Renata Tambelli & Elena Trombini & Leonardo De Pascalis & Alessandra Babore & Carmen Trumello & Silvia Cimino, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Families’ Mental Health: The Role Played by Parenting Stress, Parents’ Past Trauma, and Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Ran, Liuyi & Wang, Wo & Ai, Ming & Kong, Yiting & Chen, Jianmei & Kuang, Li, 2020. "Psychological resilience, depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms in response to COVID-19: A study of the general population in China at the peak of its epidemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    4. Jie Zhang & Zhen Yang & Xiao Wang & Juan Li & Lili Dong & Fusheng Wang & Yifei Li & Ruihong Wei & Jingping Zhang, 2020. "The relationship between resilience, anxiety and depression among patients with mild symptoms of COVID‐19 in China: A cross‐sectional study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(21-22), pages 4020-4029, November.

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