Description

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: The current study deals with the prevalence, pattern and possible causes behind the psychological distress which is defined as symptoms of depression and anxiety. India, including the western world facing a serious threat of mental health of their people and the situation becomes more sensitive when we analyze the data for young people specially students of the adult category. To understand the burden and pattern of mental disorders in adults of Ernakulam district, Kerala, India, this study has been conducted. Methods: The study area selected were schools from Ernakulam district, Kerala, India and collected the data through cluster sampling. The subjects selected were the adults (sample size 500) with equal distribution from urban & rural areas. Modified Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale was used to classify the subjects into economic classes. Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to evaluate the psychological. The correlations of parenting with the social distress have been done by Parenting & social disparities tool among adults. Results: Among them just 97 subjects were seen as normal, 106 subjects were seen as in the borderline and 297 subjects were seen as abnormal out of 500 subjects. The general prevalence rates were seen as 59.4%.The parenting score of adults from urban & rural areas always had a negative correlation with SDQ scores irrespective of their economic class. That is when parenting score decreases, the SDQ score increases. Conclusions: Compromised parenting & social disparities develop and lead to psychological distress in adults.

Keywords: Adults, Parenting factors, Social disparities, Mental health, Psychological distress, SDQ