Mental Health, Poverty, and Agency in Managua, Nicaragua: A Gendered Perspective

Abstract

The Global Burden of Disease Unit estimates that mental and neurological disorders will soon cause almost 15% of people's disabilities worldwide and that women are twice as likely to experience major depression, and have a higher prevalence of other common mental disorders (CMD) (World Health Organization, 2006). The high correlation between CMD and poverty predicts higher rates of CMD in developing nations (Chant, 2003). Utilizing feminist theory and an adapted Beiser (2006) model, this study examines gender role, social support, and self-esteem as predictors of mental health among 227 adults in Managua, Nicaragua. Respondents exhibited high levels of CMD, but women's scores were significantly higher. Self-esteem was negatively correlated to CMD and the only significant predictor of CMD. The findings highlight the substantive agency of “oppressed” women even when they lack formal power within traditional power structures. The importance of culturally and contextually appropriate measurement and theory are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Nicaragua
• women
• mental health
• feminism
• agency
• common mental disorder
• gender
• gender roles
• depression
• Central America

The author thanks Bruce DeForge, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore, for his guidance on this research.