Scale properties of an ethnographically-grounded idioms of distress screener in rural Haiti: Association with depression, anxiety, and risk factors Open Access

Abstract

Psychiatric instruments have limitations cross-culturally due to variations in conceptualizations and communication of mental distress. I evaluated a locally-developed screening tool for measuring mental distress in rural Haiti. I employed mixed methods to develop the Kreyòl Distress Idioms (KDI) screening tool. I piloted the KDI in an epidemiologic survey (N=408) and assessed it using principal components analysis (PCA) and comparison with the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BDI, BAI). Linear regression was used to identify risk factors. PCA extracted four components: 1) lack of control over thoughts and behaviors; 2) worry and rumination, 3) somatic indicators of anxiety; and 4) fatigue and foreshortened future. The KDI correlated with the BAI (r=0.67) and BDI (r=0.52). Factors associated with KDI score included female gender, older age, alcohol consumption, traumatic exposures, and having a household member with mental distress. Belief that disasters cause distress was associated with higher KDI scores, whereas belief that interpersonal relationships cause distress was associated with lower scores. Associations with BDI and BAI scores and established predictors of mental distress support convergent and external validity of the KDI. The KDI provides a more ethnographically-valid measure for mental distress in Haiti than culturally-adapted psychiatric instruments.

Table of Contents

Introduction. 2

Methods. 10

Discussion. 24

Conclusion. 29

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Mental Health Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	Depression Idioms of distress Screening tools Principal component analysis Transcultural psychiatry Haiti Global mental health Anxiety
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Kramer, Michael R, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs Non-US governmental agency (e.g., Minister of Health in Haiti) International Non-governmental organization (e.g., CARE, Inc.)

Last modified

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	Scale properties of an ethnographically-grounded idioms of distress screener in rural Haiti: Association with depression, anxiety, and risk factors ()	2018-08-28 16:01:54 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions