Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda
Poor mental health is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease, but there is a patchy understanding of how it is influenced by people’s interactions with ecological systems. In a theorygenerating study, we asked how interactions with ecosystems were perceived to influence stressors asso...
| Hauptverfasser: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Sprache: | English |
| Veröffentlicht: |
Cambridge University Press
2024
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| Zusammenfassung: | Poor mental health is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease, but there is a patchy
understanding of how it is influenced by people’s interactions with ecological systems. In a theorygenerating study, we asked how interactions with ecosystems were perceived to influence stressors
associated with psychological distress in a rural Ugandan case study. We conducted and thematically
analysed 45 semi-structured interviews with residents of Nyabyeya Parish. Poverty and food
30 insecurity were the primary reported causes of ‘thinking too much’ and related idioms suggesting psychological distress. Households bordering a conservation area reported that crop losses from
wildlife contributed to food insecurity. But, forest resources were important safety nets for those
facing poverty and food insecurity. Commercial agricultural expansion also emerged as a salient
theme in residents’ lives, reportedly exacerbating poverty and food insecurity among poorer
35 households but contributing incomes to wealthier ones. Our exploratory study suggests how two
globally prevalent land uses – nature conservation and commercial agriculture – may influence social
determinants of psychological distress in our study area. We highlight co-benefits and trade-offs
between global sustainability goals that could be managed for mental health. |
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