Dataset Information

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Psychological distress is a problem strongly associated with socio-economic conditions. This study aims to assess rates of psychological distress and 'poor' self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who constitute 21% of the population and nearly 50% live in poverty, and compare their psychological distress scores with those of the general Israeli population.

Design

The Health and Environment Survey among Palestinian citizens of Israel (HESPI-2015), included a representative sample of this minority; 2018 individuals aged ?18 were interviewed. The questionnaire included socio-demographic and health-related information, the General Health Questionnaire-12, (GHQ-12) and Self-rating of health (SRH).

Results

Subjects with GHQ-12 global scores of ?17 were considered to have high distress. Low education, female gender, obesity and the presence of chronic diseases were significantly associated with high psychological distress over and above the effect of the other variables. Poor SRH was strongly associated with having a chronic disease and additional risk factors were older age group, low education and high psychological distress. Comparing psychological distress scores of Arabs in Israel with those of the general population showed that 30% of the former were classified as asymptomatic, as compared to 75% in the general population while the proportion of symptomatic or highly symptomatic was 14% in the latter as compared with 45% in the former.

Conclusions

It appears that the burden of poverty, chronic disease and low education in this population, which suffers from multiple stressors, is disproportionate and should be addressed by the authorities, together with concrete plans to improve the education of the younger generations. Clearly, the association between discriminating policies and deprivation with psychological distress is not unique to the case of the Palestinian minority in Israel and therefore this study will allow for the examination and generalization of the current findings to other discriminated and disadvantaged minorities.

SUBMITTER: Khatib M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7818903 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

Khatib Mohammad M Mansbach-Kleinfeld Ivonne I Abu-Kaf Sarah S Ifrah Anneke A Sheikh-Muhammad Ahmad A

Israel journal of health policy research 20210120 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>Psychological distress is a problem strongly associated with socio-economic conditions. This study aims to assess rates of psychological distress and 'poor' self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who constitute 21% of the population and nearly 50% live in poverty, and compare their psychological distress scores with those of the general Israeli population.<h4>Design</h4>The Health and Environment Survey among Palestinian citizens of Israel (HESPI-2015), includ ...[more]

PMID: 33472691

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Project description:ImportanceTransgender, gender nonbinary, and genderqueer people are at increased risk for negative health outcomes, and medical school education is currently lacking on inclusion of these topics. However, there is little evidence of an association of clinician knowledge with the health of transgender people.ObjectiveTo evaluate the associations of patients' perceptions of clinician knowledge with self-rated health and severe psychological distress among transgender people.Design, setting, and participantsIn this cross-sectional study, a secondary data analysis of the 2015 US Transgender Survey (a survey of transgender, gender nonbinary, and genderqueer adults conducted across 50 states) Washington, DC, US territories, and US military bases in 2015 was performed. Data were analyzed from February to November 2022.ExposuresPatients' perception of their clinician's knowledge about transgender health care.Main outcomes and measuresSelf-rated health, dichotomized as poor or fair vs excellent, very good, or good, and severe psychological distress (scoring a validated threshold of ≥13 on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale).ResultsThe sample included a total of 27 715 respondents (9238 transgender women [33.3%; 55.1% weighted; 95% CI, 53.4%-56.7%], 22 658 non-Hispanic White individuals [81.8%; 65.6% weighted; 95% CI, 63.7%-67.5%], and 4085 individuals aged 45-64 years [14.7%; 33.8% weighted; 95% CI, 32.0%-35.5%]). Of 23 318 individuals who answered questions regarding their perceptions of their clinicians' level of knowledge, 5732 (24.6%) reported their clinician knows almost everything about transgender care, 4083 (17.5%) reported their clinician knows most things, 3446 (14.8%) reported their clinician knows some things, 2680 (11.5%) reported their clinician knows almost nothing, and 7337 (31.5%) reported they were unsure. Nearly 1 in 4 transgender adults (5612 of 23 557 individuals [23.8%]) reported having to teach their clinician about transgender people. In total, 3955 respondents (19.4%; 20.8% weighted; 95% CI, 19.2%-22.6%) reported fair or poor self-rated health and 7392 (36.9%; 28.4% weighted, 95% CI, 26.9%-30.1%) met the criteria for severe psychological distress. After adjusting for covariates, compared with individuals who reported their clinician knows almost everything about transgender care, exposure to clinicians with lower perceived levels of knowledge about transgender care was associated with significantly higher odds of fair or poor self-rated health (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for knowing almost nothing, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.76-3.94; aOR for unsure, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.28-2.56) and severe psychological distress (aOR for knowing almost nothing, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.61-3.37; aOR for unsure, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05-1.79). Respondents who had to teach a clinician about transgender people had higher odds of reporting fair or poor self-rated health (aOR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.31-2.13) and severe psychological distress (aOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.21-1.83) compared with those who did not.Conclusion and relevanceThe findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that there is an association between perceived clinician knowledge about transgender people and self-rated health and psychological distress among transgender people. These results highlight the importance of integration and enhancement of transgender health in medical education curriculum as a necessary intervention to improve the health of transgender people.

Dataset Information

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

Objectives

Design

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Correlates of psychological distress and self-rated health among Palestinian citizens of Israel: findings from the health and environment survey (HESPI).

Similar Datasets

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