Emirati Women’s Experiences of Consanguineous Marriage: a Qualitative Exploration of Attitudes, Health Challenges, and Coping Styles

Buren, Fiona Van; Gordon, William Van

doi:10.1007/s11469-019-00123-z

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The UAE also has specific environmental and cultural risk factors that contribute to mental health problems, particularly among young people [28,30]. These risk factors include large family units and consanguineous marriages, which are common in the UAE and the wider Arab world [31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety related disorders in adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: a population based cross-sectional study

et al. 2020

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Background: Anxiety disorders are common among children and adolescents. However, there is a paucity of upto-date data on the prevalence and correlates of anxiety-related disorders among children and adolescents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of specific anxiety-related disorders (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety) in the UAE, and identify correlations between these disorders and adolescents' demographic variables. Participants were 968 adolescents aged 13-18 years attending secondary schools across the UAE. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants. We collected demographic information and data about participants' anxiety levels. Anxiety was assessed using the Arabic and English versions of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders scale. Univariate analyses (independent sample t-tests and analysis of variance) were performed to evaluate factors affecting participants' anxiety scores. Chi-square tests were used to compare factors associated with anxiety disorders. Results: Participants' mean age was 16 ± 1.8 years, and 65.8% were female. The overall prevalence of anxiety disorders was 28%, with this being significantly higher in girls (33.6%) than boys (17.2%) (p < 0.0001). Participants aged < 16 years had higher generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and social anxiety scores compared with those aged ≥16 years (p ≤ 0.05). Those from households with a maid had significantly higher generalized anxiety, panic disorder, separation anxiety, and significant school avoidance scores than those without a maid (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, participants from middle and low economic backgrounds had higher separation anxiety scores compared with children from high economic backgrounds (p ≤ 0.05). The multivariate analysis showed the main associated factors with anxiety were gender (being female, p < 0.001) and caregiver (other than mother and father together, p < 0.001).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety related disorders in adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: a population based cross-sectional study

et al. 2020

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“…Table 2 Course themes and activities symptoms, negative affect, or cultural dimensions were observed, contrary to expectation and the prevailing literature (Basurrah et al, 2021(Basurrah et al, , 2022Bolier et al, 2013;Carr et al, 2020;Chakhssi et al, 2018;Hendriks et al, 2020;Hoppen & Morina, 2021;Koydemir et al, 2021;Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009;van Agteren et al, 2021;White et al, 2019). While PPIs do work in the region, as recent meta-analyses (Bassurah et al, 2021(Bassurah et al, , 2022 and independent studies Lambert, Passmore, Scull et al, 2019) confirm, it may be that for-credit classroom offerings do not yield the same returns as those found in clinical, online, community or laboratory settings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…For instance, research suggests that the absence of wellbeing predicts depression (Wood & Joseph, 2010) and its presence is protective against mental health issues (Layous et al, 2014;Lyubomirsky et al, 2005;Shin & Lyubomirsky, 2016). Indeed, meta-analyses show that PPIs increase wellbeing and reduce depressive symptoms up to 12 months in both normal and clinical groups (Bolier et al, 2013;Carr et al, 2020;Chakhssi et al, 2018;Fischer et al, 2020;Hendriks et al, 2020;Hoppen & Morina, 2021;Koydemir et al, 2021;Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009;van Agteren et al, 2021;White et al, 2019). Yet, while positive psychology grows in the Middle East region (e.g., Bassurah et al, 2021Bassurah et al, , 2022Rao et al, 2015;Rashid & Al Haj Baddar, 2019), studies are limited to those evaluating the effects of stand-alone PPI programs delivered in the classroom (i.e., Lambert, Passmore, Scull et al, 2019;, rather than longer for-credit university courses.…”

Section: Positive Psychology In Higher Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing a Happiness and Wellbeing Course in the United Arab Emirates: It is What They Want, but is it What They Need?

Lambert¹,

Draper

Warren

et al. 2022

Int J Appl Posit Psychol

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Courses that target wellbeing have grown in higher education. Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs), the empirically validated activities designed to generate wellbeing, form the bulk of these courses. Their effectiveness has been documented across global meta-analyses; but less so in the Middle East/North Africa region and in classroom settings. Given the stigma of mental health, we developed and evaluated a happiness and wellbeing course to determine whether it could yield greater wellbeing in the United Arab Emirates. A semester-long happiness and wellbeing course (i.e., positive psychology) offering weekly PPIs was evaluated against preand post measures of subjective wellbeing, positive and negative emotion, a fear of happiness, locus of control, individualism and collectivism, somatic symptoms and stress. Only a statistically significant decrease in participant's fear of happiness was recorded; no other impact was evident. PPIs, while normally effective, may be less so in raising wellbeing in a classroom setting where academic pressures may conflict with necessary insight and growth. Alternatively, it may be that these interventions are less effective in non-Western contexts where happiness and wellbeing are not considered urgent or essential goals, and where distress and wellbeing may co-exist more comfortably. Thus, despite such courses being of great interest in popular discourse and regularly used to support government agendas and institutional initiatives, they may not always be impactful routes to building the wellbeing of young people in higher education. More critical assessment of their outcomes and further study into how they can be better adapted for regional audiences is the way forward.

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“…It was established that in many communities CMs are affected by many women-related socio-demographic and cultural factors (Al Gharaibeh & Bromfield, 2012;Van Buren & Van Gordon, 2020). Various studies revealed that women's educational level, age at first marriage, economic and occupational status are associated with consanguinity (Kerkeni et al, 2006;Kaplan et al, 2016).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Women’s Status on Consanguinity in the Arab Society of Israel

Zalan¹,

Khatib²,

Muhammad³

et al. 2022

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Background: Consanguinity is a traditional phenomenon that is common in many communities worldwide. In Arab countries, its prevalence is considered to be high, despite its decrease in some Arab societies. According to the Arab society in Israel, the rates of consanguineous marriages (CMs) recently were found to be increasing in the last decade. Generally, various socio-demographic factors play an important role in determining the prevalence rates of consanguineous marriages. Objective: The purpose of the current study is to determine the prevalence rates of consanguineous marriages among the Arab society in Israel, relating to various women's socio-demographic factors. The study explored the effect of wives' age at marriage, their educational attainment, their employment, and their income level on consanguinity in this community. Method: The data were obtained from a health national survey that was carried out during the year 2017, among the Arab society in Israel. The subjects supplied the required information about themselves through personal face-to-face interviews using a survey questionnaire prepared specifically for this purpose. A detailed analysis was conducted to determine statistical significance. Result: It was observed that the prevalence rate of consanguineous marriages among the women from the Arab society in Israel seems to be high (~42%). Furthermore, the prevalence rates of CMs were found to be inversely proportional to the wife's age at marriage and their educational attainment. A significant difference could be detected between the rates of CMs and non-CMs in relation to wife's employment factor and wife's income level (i.e., 70% of the employed women had non-CMs and 65% of the high wife's income level had non-CMs

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Emirati Women’s Experiences of Consanguineous Marriage: a Qualitative Exploration of Attitudes, Health Challenges, and Coping Styles

Cited by 15 publications

References 46 publications

Anxiety related disorders in adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: a population based cross-sectional study

Anxiety related disorders in adolescents in the United Arab Emirates: a population based cross-sectional study

Assessing a Happiness and Wellbeing Course in the United Arab Emirates: It is What They Want, but is it What They Need?

Effect of Women’s Status on Consanguinity in the Arab Society of Israel

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