Factors affecting anxiety and depression in Myanmar migrant adolescents in Bang Bon district, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

This study was conducted on the February 2010, to describe the independents variables of the demographic factors, socio-economic factors, parental factors, educational background and the school status, behavioral factors and access the association of these independent variables with the dependent variables of (anxiety, depression) among the Myanmar migrant adolescents in Bang Bon district, Bangkok, Thailand. The data was collected the interviewer administrated questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were in the age of 18-19 years old and two hundred and seventy one adolescents were participated in this study. Most of the adolescents were single, Myanmar and Karen, full time workers, had attained middle school education. Most of the adolescents were not attending the migrant school. Most of the respondents lived together with their friends and relatives, some lived with their spouse. 64%of the adolescents have both parents, 16% had divorce parents and 19% had single parents. Majority of the teens mothers’ had primary education and only 36% of the teens mothers’ had anxiety, depression. 35% of the teens were drinking alcohol and 25% were smoking; only 5.5% of the teens had forced sex against their will. The prevalence of anxiety in those migrant teens had 22.1% and depression was 12.9% mild depression and 1.8% moderate depression. In bivariate analysis, race, income, good relationship with friends and parental conflicts were associated with both anxiety and depression (p<0.05). All behavioral factors were not associated with depression but some associated with anxiety. A strategy for the mental health for these groups should be seen as a strategic investment which will create many long term benefits for individuals, societies and health systems. Professions in mental health such as psychologists, psychiatric nurses and social workers, should receive special training for appropriate knowledge and skills among migrant adolescents.