Abstract
M.Sc. (Research Psychology)
Mental health is known to be adversely affected by gender inequality and poverty. The World
Health Organization (WHO) reported that psychological disorders affect half the global
population (WHO, 2010) and South African estimates posited that 16.5% of the population
presented with common mental disorders in 2007 (Williams et al., 2008). Depression and
anxiety disorders in women, specifically, are posing a major public health concern in
developing countries due to inadequate treatment (Aidoo & Harpham, 2001). Protective
factors, namely intrapersonal, interpersonal, community and cultural factors, were identified
by Ungar (2008) as a mechanism that promotes resilience and alleviates the effects of
adversity.
In order to develop knowledge geared toward intervention strategies to promote
mental health in socio-economically disadvantaged women in urban communities, this study
employed an explanatory mixed methods research design (which included both quantitative
surveys and qualitative interviews) to establish an incidence of depressive symptoms, and
levels of ego-resilience, among women in Doornkop, Soweto. This was done in order to
explore, first, the relationships between selected socio-demographic variables and depression
and ego-resilience, and second, to investigate if there was a relationship between depression
and ego-resilience. Finally, the study aimed to gain an understanding of how women
perceived the role of protective resources in their lives which might promote positive mental
health outcomes.
The statistical component of the study found a weak negative correlation between the
two constructs of depression and ego-resilience. Symptoms of depression appeared to be
related by exposure to a high number of difficult life experiences, and particularly in
instances of having been a victim of crime or violence. While ego-resilience seemed to be
related to increased participation in community groups, it also correlated with adversity, namely, unemployment. This led the researcher to the conclusion that for this sample,
depression and ego-resilience were independent constructs, and although they were divergent
concepts, both were shaped by exposure to adversity. The interview data further explored
exogenous sources of resilience as set out by Ungar (2008). These findings highlighted the
importance of interpersonal relations on feelings of well-being. While the protective factors
varied in the sources from which they arose (from children, romantic partners, parents, peers
and community groups to music and television, and faith in God), they all provided a sense of
purpose, belonging and self -worth, which enabled positive feelings.
The main recommendation that arose from the research was the need for community
education about mental illness, the services available to communities, and the importance of
developing and maintaining family and community systems of support. These measures may
go some way toward enhancing resilience in women and reducing vulnerability to mental
disorders arising from experiences of adversity. Furthermore, a focus on community-based
interventions, such as education and life skills, is vital in shifting the focus of interventions
from mental illness to the promotion of mental health. Ongoing research is fundamental to
developing our existing knowledge of both psychopathology and the promotion of mental
well-being in women in socio-economically deprived communities. Research, in light of the
challenges facing community mental health services in poor areas, could include foci on the
beliefs of professionals including the knowledge and skills required to deliver effective
mental health services. Knowledge of this nature should serve to enhance our understanding
of the complexities of mental health and inform the development of innovative and
appropriate treatment modalities that are oriented to the particular needs of women in
resource-poor communities.