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How Would You Describe a Mentally Healthy Person? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Orphans and Separated Children

Publication ,  Journal Article
Keyes, CLM; Sohail, MM; Molokwu, NJ; Parnell, H; Amanya, C; Kaza, VGK; Saddo, YB; Vann, V; Tzudier, S; Proeschold-Bell, RJ
Published in: Journal of Happiness Studies
April 1, 2021

The researcher-driven conceptualizations of mental health that undergird flourishing measures have not been extensively studied qualitatively for acceptance by people in low and middle income countries. We conducted in-depth interviews with caregivers of orphaned and separated children (OSC) in five geographic regions (Kenya; Ethiopia; Cambodia; Hyderabad, India; and Nagaland, India). Sixty-two participants answered open-ended questions including, “What does mental health mean to you? What does it mean to be mentally healthy?” We coded responses using a priori and data-driven codes and analyzed coded text for themes. Across regions, participants frequently articulated similar conceptualizations, which did not include orientations/values but spanned experiences, functioning, and behaviors, as well as the eudaimonic and hedonic traditions of happiness. Functioning included good states of mind (peaceful mind, thinking clearly, thinking positively) and being physically healthy. Behaviors were contributing to the community and spending enjoyable time in groups. For experiences, participants universally indicated happiness, which was the most prominent feature of good mental health, using terms such as “happy,” “jovial,” and “joy.” Across all geographic regions, mental health was not articulated merely as the absence of mental illness. A two continua model of good mental health emerged spontaneously among half of Kenyan and one-third of Cambodian participants. Altogether, the lay conception of ‘a person who is mentally healthy’ across these diverse non-western cultures supports multiple existing conceptions and measurements of flourishing. Researchers may consider adding to their conceptualizations good functioning in the form of clear and peaceful thinking and the behavior of enjoyable socializing.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Happiness Studies

DOI

EISSN

1573-7780

ISSN

1389-4978

Publication Date

April 1, 2021

Volume

22

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1719 / 1743

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

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Keyes, C. L. M., Sohail, M. M., Molokwu, N. J., Parnell, H., Amanya, C., Kaza, V. G. K., … Proeschold-Bell, R. J. (2021). How Would You Describe a Mentally Healthy Person? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Orphans and Separated Children. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(4), 1719–1743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00293-x
Keyes, C. L. M., M. M. Sohail, N. J. Molokwu, H. Parnell, C. Amanya, V. G. K. Kaza, Y. B. Saddo, V. Vann, S. Tzudier, and R. J. Proeschold-Bell. “How Would You Describe a Mentally Healthy Person? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Orphans and Separated Children.” Journal of Happiness Studies 22, no. 4 (April 1, 2021): 1719–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00293-x.
Keyes CLM, Sohail MM, Molokwu NJ, Parnell H, Amanya C, Kaza VGK, et al. How Would You Describe a Mentally Healthy Person? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Orphans and Separated Children. Journal of Happiness Studies. 2021 Apr 1;22(4):1719–43.
Keyes, C. L. M., et al. “How Would You Describe a Mentally Healthy Person? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Orphans and Separated Children.” Journal of Happiness Studies, vol. 22, no. 4, Apr. 2021, pp. 1719–43. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s10902-020-00293-x.
Keyes CLM, Sohail MM, Molokwu NJ, Parnell H, Amanya C, Kaza VGK, Saddo YB, Vann V, Tzudier S, Proeschold-Bell RJ. How Would You Describe a Mentally Healthy Person? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Orphans and Separated Children. Journal of Happiness Studies. 2021 Apr 1;22(4):1719–1743.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Happiness Studies

DOI

EISSN

1573-7780

ISSN

1389-4978

Publication Date

April 1, 2021

Volume

22

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1719 / 1743

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology