The Manifestation of Anxiety among Sesotho Speakers

Abstract

Mental health research in black communities in South Africa has been neglected to an alarming degree. Consequently the health system is in a precarious situation owing to a lack of accurate data to facilitate proper planning. This study investigates the way in which anxiety is clinically manifested among Sesotho speakers. For this exploratory descriptive study, the participants consisted of 101 Sesotho speakers diagnosed with anxiety disorders. They were drawn from the population of patients visiting various health establishments in the Mangaung area, South Africa. A semi-structured interview based on the Psychiatric Interview Questionnaire was used to evaluate the participants. It consisted of two types of data collection: the open-ended interview and clinical observation. The results show that there were marked differences in the presentation of anxiety symptoms among Sesotho speakers in comparison with what has been reported in western literature. Anxiety among Sesotho speakers is characterized by the prevalence of hallucinations, and there are also overlapping symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Research on help-seeking for mental illness in Africa: Dominant approaches and possible alternatives

“…In a similar fashion, Okello and Musisi (2006, p. 70) conclude from their research amongst Bagandan Ugandans, “Although the symptoms of depression were seen as constituting an illness, its conceptualization, name, causation and treatment were not deemed to fit into conventional western biomedical psychiatry.” By the same token, Mosotho, Louw, and Calitz (2011, p. 447) and Mbanga et al. (2002, p. 69) emphasize respectively that an important finding from their research in South Africa “is the marked variation in manifestation of the symptoms of the anxiety among Sesotho speakers in comparison with Westerners” and that “Attitudes towards and beliefs about schizophrenia .…”

“…Similarly, Mosotho et al. (2011, p. 447) in their study of anxiety among Sesotho-speaking South Africans proclaim: “There should be no room for cultural arrogance, as Africans are neither Americans nor Europeans. African people should be treated within the framework of their culture and belief systems.”…”

“…For example, Mosotho et al. (2011, p. 446), quoted above, assert: “Spiritual and/or traditional healers have played a significant role in combating a range of diseases that have affected African people for centuries . .…”

“…And once again, this notion of “cultural belief” tends to be construed in monolithic terms. Essentialist claims are widely made within the studies, with common phrases such as: “the African people” (Mosotho et al., 2011, p. 447); “the Zulu peoples’ cultural beliefs” (Crawford & Lipsedge, 2004, p. 143); “African people should be treated within the framework of their culture and belief systems” (Mosotho et al., 2011, p. 447); or as Okello and Musisi (2006, p. 61) explicitly state, “People from different cultural contexts and traditions define and experience reality in very different ways, including their views about mental disorders.” Thus, as with the previous research tradition, “Africa” tends to be classified as a homogenous entity, with the subjectivities and systems of knowledge prevailing on the continent bound seamlessly together.…”

Occupational stress and mental well-being in a cohort of Black South African teachers

“…In spite of serious concern regarding the negative impact of stress on employees' well-being as well as on corporate profi tability, and the substantial increase in recent research interest (Brock & Buckley, 2012;Wright, Cropanzano, Bonett, & Diamond, 2009), Mosotho, Louw, and Calitz (2011) recently identifi ed a relative lack of research focusing on mental well-being among Black South Africans. The goal of the current study was therefore to investigate the levels of occupational stress and mental well-being among a cohort of Black South African teachers, and to determine how these two variables are related to each other.…”