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Cited by 84Indigenous Health, Education, and RightsMental Health Treatment and AccessSuicide and Self-Harm Studies

Exploring the expression of depression and distress in aboriginal men in central Australia: a qualitative study

Open access
Brown, Alex, Scales, Ushma, Beever, Warwick, Rickards, Bernadette, Rowley, Kevin, O’Dea, Kerin·2012·BMC Psychiatry
DOI 10.1186/1471-244x-12-97PMC PMC3441213
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite being at heightened risk of developing mental illness, there has been little research into the experience of depression in Australian Aboriginal populations. This study aimed to outline the expression, experience, manifestations and consequences of emotional distress and depression in Aboriginal men in central Australia. METHODS: Utilizing a grounded theory approach, in depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 theoretically sampled young, middle aged and senior Aboriginal men and traditional healers. Analysis was conducted by a single investigator using constant comparison methods. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were common and identifiable, and largely consistent with symptom profiles seen in non-Aboriginal groups. For Aboriginal men, depression was expressed and understood as primarily related to weakness or injury of the spirit, with a lack of reference to hopelessness and specific somatic complaints. The primary contributors to depression related to the loss of connection to social and cultural features of Aboriginal life, cumulative stress and marginalisation. CONCLUSIONS: Depression and depressive symptomatology clearly exists in Aboriginal men, however its determinants and expression differ from mainstream populations. Emotions were understood within the construction of spirit, Kurunpa, which was vulnerable to repetitive and powerful negative social forces, loss, and stress across the life course, and served to frame the physical and emotional experience and expression of depression.

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Crossref · 10.1186/1471-244x-12-97

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  • A systematic review of qualitative studies on depression conducted worldwide found that several somatic symptoms-namely headaches, general aches and pains, problems connected with the heart-were among the features most frequently reported by people with depression across populations.

    “However, a systematic review of qualitative studies on depression conducted worldwide 78 found that several somatic symptoms-namely headaches, general aches and pains, problems connected with the heart (e.g., palpitations, heavy heart, heart pain)-were among the features most frequently reported by people with depression across populations.”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [78]

  • The higher prevalence of somatic symptoms, such as headaches and general aches and pains, among African, Asian, Caribbean, Central and South American and Pacific Islander peoples and Indigenous populations from North America, Europe, and Australia may relate to a number of factors.

    “The higher prevalence of somatic symptoms, such as headaches and general aches and pains, among African, Asian, Caribbean, Central and South American and Pacific Islander peoples and Indigenous populations from North America, Europe, and Australia (Figure 2), 78 may relate to a number of factors.”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [78]

  • The subjective experience of loneliness is a hallmark symptom in many cultural groups; for example, among Aboriginal men in Australia, loss of social connection was a central feature of the depression experience with less salience of hopelessness and somatic complaints.

    “The subjective experience of loneliness is also a hallmark symptom in many cultural groups; 78,108,109 for example, among Aboriginal men in Australia, loss of social connection was a central feature of the depression experience with less salience of hopelessness and somatic complaints. 110”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [78]

  • Irritability and anger are not included within DSM criteria for adults but are frequently noted across diverse cultural groups.

    “Irritability and anger are also not included within DSM criteria for adults but are frequently noted across diverse cultural groups. 78,106,107”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [78]

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Obeyesekere G Kleinman A, Good B Depression, Buddhism, and the Work of Culture in Sri Lanka Culture and Depression Studies in the Anthropolgy and Cross-Cultural Psychiatry of Affect and Disorder. edn 1985 University of California Press, Berkeley
  2. Marsella AJ Sartorius N Jablenski A Fenton FR Kleinman A, Good B Cross-Cultural Studies of Depressive Disorders: An Overview Culture and Depression Studies in the Anthropolgy and Cross-Cultural Psychiatry of Affect and Disorder. edn 1985 University of California Press, Berkeley
  3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) 1994 American Psychiatric Association, Washington D.C
  4. Cawte J Cruel, Poor and Brutal Nations: the assessment of mental health in an Aboriginal community by short-stay psychiatric field team methods 1972 The University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu
  5. Kleinman A Good B Culture and Depression 1985 University of California Press, Studies in the Anthropolgy and Cross-Cultural Psychiatry of Affect and Disorder. Berkeley
  6. Glaser B Basics of grounded theory analysis 1992 Sociology Press, Mill Valley

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Related

Authors
Brown, A., Scales, U., Beever, W., Rickards, B., Rowley, K., & O’Dea, K.
Affiliations
  • Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute (AU)
  • Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (AU)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • University of South Australia (AU)
Corresponding author
Brown, Alex
ORCID
Venue
BMC Psychiatry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2012-08-01
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
97-97
ISSN
1471-244X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1471-244x-12-97
PMC
PMC3441213
OpenAlex
W2132023505
Cited by
84
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
8.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • UniSA Research Outputs Repository (University of South Australia) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  • Australian Rotary Health
  • Medical Research Council
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (320860)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Keywords
depression, Aboriginal men, emotional distress, alcoholic beverages, traditional healers, marginalization, cumulative stress, Central Australia
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Australia, Culture, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Emotions, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Stress, Psychological, Qualitative Research

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