Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is common globally, particularly among young people, but limited research has been done on the risk factors for GAD especially in low-income settings. We sought to understand risk factors for GAD among young (ages 18–32) women and men from urban informal settlement...

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Main Authors: Smanga Mkhwanazi, Andrew Gibbs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-12-01
Series:SSM - Mental Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560321000104
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author Smanga Mkhwanazi
Andrew Gibbs
author_facet Smanga Mkhwanazi
Andrew Gibbs
author_sort Smanga Mkhwanazi
collection DOAJ
description Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is common globally, particularly among young people, but limited research has been done on the risk factors for GAD especially in low-income settings. We sought to understand risk factors for GAD among young (ages 18–32) women and men from urban informal settlements in Durban, South Africa, enrolled in an intervention trial. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess risk factors, separately by sex. Using the GAD7 scale, among 484 women, 18.6 ​% reported moderate or severe symptoms of GAD. In multivariable analysis, moderate or severe GAD symptoms were associated with stealing because of hunger in the past month, stress because of lack of work, experiencing three or more past year experiences of adverse events, and past year experience of intimate partner violence. Among 505 men, 19.6 ​% reported moderate or severe GAD symptoms. In multivariable analysis, moderate or severe GAD symptoms were associated with stealing because of hunger in the past month, greater adverse childhood experiences, and three or more adverse experiences in the past year. Overall higher GAD symptoms were associated with poverty and violence experience and exposure, addressing these two factors is critical for reducing poor mental health.
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spelling doaj.art-26071321d1ad4e55a6a989abfd6b37a72022-12-21T21:32:23ZengElsevierSSM - Mental Health2666-56032021-12-011100010Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional studySmanga Mkhwanazi0Andrew Gibbs1Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa; Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Corresponding author. Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa.Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is common globally, particularly among young people, but limited research has been done on the risk factors for GAD especially in low-income settings. We sought to understand risk factors for GAD among young (ages 18–32) women and men from urban informal settlements in Durban, South Africa, enrolled in an intervention trial. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess risk factors, separately by sex. Using the GAD7 scale, among 484 women, 18.6 ​% reported moderate or severe symptoms of GAD. In multivariable analysis, moderate or severe GAD symptoms were associated with stealing because of hunger in the past month, stress because of lack of work, experiencing three or more past year experiences of adverse events, and past year experience of intimate partner violence. Among 505 men, 19.6 ​% reported moderate or severe GAD symptoms. In multivariable analysis, moderate or severe GAD symptoms were associated with stealing because of hunger in the past month, greater adverse childhood experiences, and three or more adverse experiences in the past year. Overall higher GAD symptoms were associated with poverty and violence experience and exposure, addressing these two factors is critical for reducing poor mental health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560321000104Young peopleGenderViolencePovertyGeneralized anxiety
spellingShingle Smanga Mkhwanazi
Andrew Gibbs
Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
SSM - Mental Health
Young people
Gender
Violence
Poverty
Generalized anxiety
title Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
title_full Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
title_short Risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study
title_sort risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder among young women and men in informal settlements in south africa a cross sectional study
topic Young people
Gender
Violence
Poverty
Generalized anxiety
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560321000104
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