Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda
Poor mental health is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease but there is poor understanding of how it is influenced by people's interactions with ecological systems. In a theory-generating case study we asked how interactions with ecosystems were perceived to influence stressors...
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Cambridge University Press
2024-09-01
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| Series: | Oryx |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605323001710/type/journal_article |
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| author | Thomas Pienkowski Aidan Keane Eugene Kinyanda Birthe Loa Knizek Caroline Asiimwe Geoffrey Muhanguzi E.J. Milner-Gulland |
| author_facet | Thomas Pienkowski Aidan Keane Eugene Kinyanda Birthe Loa Knizek Caroline Asiimwe Geoffrey Muhanguzi E.J. Milner-Gulland |
| author_sort | Thomas Pienkowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Poor mental health is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease but there is poor understanding of how it is influenced by people's interactions with ecological systems. In a theory-generating case study we asked how interactions with ecosystems were perceived to influence stressors associated with psychological distress in a rural setting in Uganda. We conducted and thematically analysed 45 semi-structured interviews with residents of Nyabyeya Parish. Poverty and food insecurity were the primary reported causes of ‘thinking too much’ and related idioms suggesting psychological distress. Households bordering a conservation area reported that crop losses from wildlife contributed to food insecurity. However, forest resources represented important safety nets for those facing poverty and food insecurity. Commercial agricultural expansion also emerged as a salient theme in the lives of residents, reportedly exacerbating poverty and food insecurity amongst poorer households but contributing incomes to wealthier ones. Our exploratory study suggests how two globally prevalent land uses, nature conservation and commercial agriculture, may influence social determinants of psychological distress in the study area. We highlight co-benefits and trade-offs between global sustainability goals that could be managed to improve mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b1ef72fde8a49a6912c2c330a288027 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0030-6053 1365-3008 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oryx |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b1ef72fde8a49a6912c2c330a2880272025-08-20T02:41:20ZengCambridge University PressOryx0030-60531365-30082024-09-015864164910.1017/S0030605323001710Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural UgandaThomas Pienkowski0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3803-7533Aidan Keane1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9704-5576Eugene Kinyanda2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7068-9294Birthe Loa Knizek3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5952-9895Caroline Asiimwe4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6706-3407Geoffrey Muhanguzi5E.J. Milner-Gulland6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0324-2710Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, UKUniversity of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKMedical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, UgandaNorwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayBudongo Conservation Field Station, Masindi, Uganda Jane Goodall Institute, Entebbe, UgandaIndependent researcher, Masindi, UgandaDepartment of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKPoor mental health is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease but there is poor understanding of how it is influenced by people's interactions with ecological systems. In a theory-generating case study we asked how interactions with ecosystems were perceived to influence stressors associated with psychological distress in a rural setting in Uganda. We conducted and thematically analysed 45 semi-structured interviews with residents of Nyabyeya Parish. Poverty and food insecurity were the primary reported causes of ‘thinking too much’ and related idioms suggesting psychological distress. Households bordering a conservation area reported that crop losses from wildlife contributed to food insecurity. However, forest resources represented important safety nets for those facing poverty and food insecurity. Commercial agricultural expansion also emerged as a salient theme in the lives of residents, reportedly exacerbating poverty and food insecurity amongst poorer households but contributing incomes to wealthier ones. Our exploratory study suggests how two globally prevalent land uses, nature conservation and commercial agriculture, may influence social determinants of psychological distress in the study area. We highlight co-benefits and trade-offs between global sustainability goals that could be managed to improve mental health.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605323001710/type/journal_articleBiodiversity conservationcommercial agriculturemental illnessnature conservationplanetary healthpsychological distresssocio-ecological systemsUganda |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Pienkowski Aidan Keane Eugene Kinyanda Birthe Loa Knizek Caroline Asiimwe Geoffrey Muhanguzi E.J. Milner-Gulland Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda Oryx Biodiversity conservation commercial agriculture mental illness nature conservation planetary health psychological distress socio-ecological systems Uganda |
| title | Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda |
| title_full | Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda |
| title_short | Exploring links between socio-ecological systems and psychological distress: a case study in rural Uganda |
| title_sort | exploring links between socio ecological systems and psychological distress a case study in rural uganda |
| topic | Biodiversity conservation commercial agriculture mental illness nature conservation planetary health psychological distress socio-ecological systems Uganda |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0030605323001710/type/journal_article |
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