Mental Health and Well-Being in Different Levels of Perceived Discrimination

Abstract

Background: To compare mental health and well- being in different levels of the perceived discrimination among Iranian people living in Tehran.
Method: Using multi- stage sampling, 1255 subjects with the average age of 45 years and 9 months (including 672 women and 583 men) were selected and they completed all items of the general health questionnaire (GHQ), the social well- being inventory (SWI), personal well- being inventory (PWI), and a question to assess the perceived discrimination.
Results: Data analysis by Kruskal- Wallis test revealed that there were significant differences between physical symptoms (χ²=5.93, P<0.05) and depression (χ ²=15.70, P<0.05), the subscales of mental health in different levels of the perceived discrimination. Furthermore, comparing personal well- being scores and its subscales in different levels of the perceived discrimination showed significant differences in personal hygiene (χ²=7.20, P<0.05), and security in future (χ²=7.60, P<0.05). Emotional well- being (χ²=12.25, P<0.05), self-rule (χ²=7.45, P<0.05), personal growth (χ²=19.87, P<0.05), and psychological well- being (χ²= 9.09, P<0.05) were significantly different in different levels of the perceived discrimination, too. Moreover, comparing social well- being in different levels of the perceived discrimination indicated significant differences between social acceptance (χ ²=14.91, P<0.05), and social participation (χ ²= 10.91, P<0.05).
Conclusion: Therefore, people are more active in society, increases the possibility of encountering with discrimination and consequently the perception of that.