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A prospective study of social difficulties, acculturation and persistent depression in Pakistani women living in the UK

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2011

N. Chaudhry ,
N. Husain ,
B. Tomenson  and
F. Creed
N. Chaudhry*
Affiliation:
University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
N. Husain
Affiliation:
University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
B. Tomenson
Affiliation:
University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
F. Creed
Affiliation:
University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: N. Chaudhry, Psychiatry Research Group, School of Community-Based Medicine, The University of Manchester, University Place, The Scan Building, 3rd Floor East Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The reasons for the high prevalence of depressive disorders in women of Pakistani origin living in the UK are not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of life events, chronic social difficulties and acculturation in a population-based sample of British Pakistani women.

Method

A cross-sectional and prospective cohort study of 18- to 65-year-old Pakistani women in UK was carried out. The Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry for diagnosis, the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule for social stress and an acculturation questionnaire were used.

Results

Depressive disorder at baseline was associated with older age, social isolation and marked difficulties involving health and close relationships. Depressive disorder at follow-up was associated with severity of depression at baseline, difficulties in close relationships and two aspects of acculturation, especially less acculturation in relation to use of the English language.

Conclusions

Lack of acculturation, especially less familiarity with the English language, is an independent predictor of persistence of depression in Pakistani women in UK. This needs to be taken into consideration when planning treatment, which also needs to address the personal difficulties associated with persistent depression. The implication of this work is that women of Pakistani origin with depression should be encouraged to receive help in the use of English as one part of treatment that may prevent relapse.

Keywords

AcculturationPakistani womenpersistent depressionsocial stress
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 42 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 1217 - 1226
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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Supplementary material: File

Chaudhry Supplementary Table 1

Supplementary Table S1. Comparison of depressed, distressed and non-depressed women with respect to individual items on the acculturation questionnaire

Download Chaudhry Supplementary Table 1(File)
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