Psychological well-being of Portuguese expatriates in Sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Journal: Journal of travel medicine

Volume: 24

Issue: 6

Year of Publication: 2018

Affiliated Institutions:  Public Health Department, NOVA Medical School (Faculdade Ciências Médicas), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA Lisbon University), Campo Mártires da Pátria, . - Lisboa, Portugal. Public Health Department, NOVA Medical School (Faculdade Ciências Médicas), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA Lisbon University) and UIS-ESSLei-IPLeiria, Portugal. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde (Faculty of Health Sciences), Universidade da Beira Interior (Beira Interior University), Portugal.

Abstract summary 

Psychological health problems are highlighted among the most relevant disease patterns in expatriates. The purpose of this study was to determine the psychological well-being in Portuguese expatriates in Angola and Mozambique, considering the increasing expatriation wave.A cross-sectional self-administered web survey was conducted in a sample of 352 Portuguese civil expatriates in Angola and Mozambique. Clinically significant psychological distress was determined using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 and associated factors were studied using multiple logistic regression analysis.GHQ-12 items showed good internal consistency as reflected by the Cronbach's alpha. One-third of the screened expatriates corresponded to cases of clinically significant psychological distress. Age, country of birth, self-reported psychological symptoms and self-perception of general health in the previous 3 months were identified as independent variables associated with psychological distress.Increasing awareness and monitoring expatriates mental health should be in the health agenda, furthermore considering them a risk group in need of evidence-based mental health expatriate preparedness. The use of user-friendly validated tools, such as GHQ-12, allowing objective assessment and surveillance of these hard to reach populations should be reinforced.

Authors & Co-authors:  Fonseca Ana Glória AG Dias Sara S SS Baptista Joao Luis JL Torgal Jorge J

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  4
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1093/jtm/tax061
SSN : 1708-8305
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adult
Other Terms
GHQ-12;General Health Questionnaire;Portuguese expatriates;psychological health;surveillance
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Angola
Publication Country
England