Effectiveness of Psycho-Education Model in Improving the Quality of Life (QoL) of Women with Comorbid Symptoms of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders in Resource Poor Settings in Laikipia County, Kenya

Gladys Mwangi, PhD., - (African International University)

Abstract

This research investigated whether the eclectic psycho-education model was effective in improving the QoL of women with comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in resource poor settings in Laikipia County in Kenya. Quasi-experimental research design was adopted for this study, with the target population of 484 female members of Conservation Enterprise Groups (CEG) in Laikipia. A sample size of 200 for both the experimental (EG) and control groups (CG) was selected at 80% power and 30% effective size. The tools used for the study included Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI) for anxiety, the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression and the EUROHIS 8-item- QoL index.  Data was analysed using SPSS Version 21.0. The findings of this research show that comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders have a negative impact on people’s Quality of Life (QoL). The prevalence of depression was established as 26.7% and that of anxiety as 79.4% amongst the women. The study also showed that if these symptoms were not treated, they degenerated into severe symptoms, as evidenced in the CG, where the psycho-education treatment was not provided. Regression analysis conducted at the end of the study showed that the psycho-education treatment significantly improved comorbid symptoms of anxiety and depression (P<0.005), leading to significant improvements in QoL scores (P<0.005). There is however, need for further research to establish other socio-cultural and environmental factors that contribute to high comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms, which lead to low QoL among women in resource poor settings in Laikipia.

Key words:quality of life, psycho-education treatment, comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders, resource poor settings.