Zahra Nauresh Sohani  ( Bachelor of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, )
Jibran Sualeh Mohammad  ( Medical Student, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan. )

Madam, stress in the modern world encompasses a myriad of definitions that are related to tensions of modern life. Such tensions can often translate life threatening diseases as well as to many mental disorders, including depression and psychoses.¹ Psychological stress, common stressors, and modes of uplifts were assessed and compared between genders in the inhabitants of Rehri Goth. The significance of this study lays in the fact that research in Karachi is limited to well resourced centers and subsequently little empirical data is available on the mental health of the residents of squatter settlement. 

A community based cross-sectional pilot survey was conducted by learning researchers with limited resources, in [(f1)]  May 2008 in an urban squatter Rehri-Goth of Karachi. The 150 residents were conveniently surveyed by a self-reporting questionnaire. Socio-demographic data, the level of stress, common stressors and commonly used modes of uplifts were recorded. Our results demonstrated that females tend to be significantly more stressed in comparison to males (mean stress score of 4.57±2.05 and 6.05±2.23 for males and females respectively).

Environmental stressors were found to be most frequent; in contrast, a majority of studies illustrate work as the most common stressor in both developed and developing countries.² The discrepancy between literature and the findings of this study can be attributed to the lack of research conducted in urban squatter settlements where the main cause of sickness and frustration is the severe lack of necessary environmental facilities.³ Our results supported by current research on stress coping mechanism suggest the use of drugs as a very common method to alleviate stress⁴ (see figure).

Females were found to have a significantly higher level of stress than males (p=<0.05). This is due to the severe hardships experienced by women in underdeveloped regions and the strong patriarchal influence on the society.⁵ Strong implementation of policies in remote areas of developing countries pertaining to the emancipation of women is required. Due to the detrimental effects of stress, mental health should be recognized as an essential component of the primary health care centre and as such training and treatment options should be made available.

 

1. Stress, Definition of Stress, Stressor, What is Stress? Eustress? (Online) 2008. (Cited 2008, May 29). Available from URL: http://www.stress.org/topic-definition-stress.htm
2. American Psychological Association Survey 2006 — Stress in America. APA Stress and Mind/Body Health Press Release. 2007.
3. Bondestam S. Mental Health. In: Lankinen, Kari S, Bergstrom S, Mäkelä PH, Peltomaa M. Health and disease in developing countries. London: MacMillan Education Ltd 1994; pp 323-30.
4. Shafiq M, Shah Z, Saleem A, Siddiqi MT, Salahuddin FF, et al. Perceptions of Pakistani medical students about drugs and alcohol: a questionnaire-based survey. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2006; 1: 31.
5. Stewart DE, Ashraf IJ, Munce SE. Women's mental health: a silent cause of mortality and morbidity. Int J Gynaecol Obst 2006; 94: 343-9.