A high burden of adverse life events and poor coping mechanisms experienced by urban-dwelling black South Africans
South Africa, 2008 - 2009
N Peer, C Lombard, K Steyn, N Levitt
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October 18, 2021
Last modified
October 18, 2021
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Identification
Survey ID Number
Ahighburdenofadverselifeevents
Title
A high burden of adverse life events and poor coping mechanisms experienced by urban-dwelling black South Africans
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| South Africa | ZAR |
Abstract
Aim:
In view of the current context of poverty and socio-economic inequalities and the high and rising burdens of HIV infection and non-communicable diseases in South Africa, this study aims to describe the distribution of adverse life events (ALEs) by age and gender, and examine the socio-demographic characteristics, psychosocial coping mechanisms, risky lifestyle behaviours and family burden of HIV-related ill-health associated with ALEs in 25-74-year-old black residents of Cape Town.
Methods:
In a random cross-sectional sample, 12 ALEs, tobacco and alcohol use, sense of coherence (SOC), locus of control (LOC) and impact of HIV in the family were determined by administered questionnaires. Data analyses included descriptive statistics adjusted for the realised sample. Multivariable linear regression models assessed the independent associations of increasing number of ALEs.
Results:
Among 1099 participants, mean lifetime score of ALE categories examined was 6.1 ±2.1 (range 0-12) with men reporting significantly higher number of events compared with women (p<0.001). The most frequent ALE was the death of a loved one (88.5%) followed by a major financial crisis (81.2%) with no trend across gender or age group. In the multivariable linear regression model, increasing ALEs were significantly associated with male gender, unemployment, having spent >50% of life in urban areas, >7 years of education, problematic alcohol use and poorer psychosocial coping mechanisms defined by low SOC and LOC. All four variables pertaining to HIV-related burden of ill-health in the family were significantly associated with increasing ALEs.
Conclusions:
Considering that lower SOC and LOC and problem drinking were significantly linked to ALEs, policymakers need to formulate strategies that improve coping mechanisms and promote problem-solving behaviours, target the high burden of alcohol misuse and address unemployment.
In view of the current context of poverty and socio-economic inequalities and the high and rising burdens of HIV infection and non-communicable diseases in South Africa, this study aims to describe the distribution of adverse life events (ALEs) by age and gender, and examine the socio-demographic characteristics, psychosocial coping mechanisms, risky lifestyle behaviours and family burden of HIV-related ill-health associated with ALEs in 25-74-year-old black residents of Cape Town.
Methods:
In a random cross-sectional sample, 12 ALEs, tobacco and alcohol use, sense of coherence (SOC), locus of control (LOC) and impact of HIV in the family were determined by administered questionnaires. Data analyses included descriptive statistics adjusted for the realised sample. Multivariable linear regression models assessed the independent associations of increasing number of ALEs.
Results:
Among 1099 participants, mean lifetime score of ALE categories examined was 6.1 ±2.1 (range 0-12) with men reporting significantly higher number of events compared with women (p<0.001). The most frequent ALE was the death of a loved one (88.5%) followed by a major financial crisis (81.2%) with no trend across gender or age group. In the multivariable linear regression model, increasing ALEs were significantly associated with male gender, unemployment, having spent >50% of life in urban areas, >7 years of education, problematic alcohol use and poorer psychosocial coping mechanisms defined by low SOC and LOC. All four variables pertaining to HIV-related burden of ill-health in the family were significantly associated with increasing ALEs.
Conclusions:
Considering that lower SOC and LOC and problem drinking were significantly linked to ALEs, policymakers need to formulate strategies that improve coping mechanisms and promote problem-solving behaviours, target the high burden of alcohol misuse and address unemployment.
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| N Peer | Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Durban, South Africa |
| C Lombard | Biostatistics Unit, SAMRC, Tygerberg, South Africa |
| K Steyn | Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa, Department of Medicine, UCT, Cape Town, South Africa |
| N Levitt | Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town, South Africa |
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2008-01-01 | 2009-12-31 |