Honors Theses

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Date of Defense

2025

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Type

Bachelors of Science

Declared Major

Neuroscience

College

College of Psychology

Faculty Advisor

Leanne Boucher, Ph.D., College of Psychology

Honors Program Director

Aileen Miyuki Farrar, Ph.D., Director, Farquhar Honors Program

Faculty Fellow for Student Research

David Kerstetter, Ph.D., Faculty Fellow for Student Research

HCAS Dean

Robin Cooper, Ph.D., Dean, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Home College Dean

Karen Grosby, Ed.D., Dean, College of Psychology

Abstract

Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, are a growing global concern with profound consequences on individuals' well-being and societal functioning. The burden of these disorders is not only psychological but also economic, affecting quality of life. Mental health outcomes are heavily influenced by a range of social determinants, such as financial status, education, and access to healthcare. While extensive research has focused on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) countries, there remains a significant gap in understanding how these determinants affect mental health in low-resource settings or non-WEIRD countries. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the relationship between these social determinants and mental health outcomes in Bangladesh and Nepal, two non-WEIRD countries that are underrepresented in global mental health research. Specifically, this research examined how financial status, educational attainment, and healthcare access correlate with the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms, as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) by utilizing data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) collected by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Using DHS data from Bangladesh and Nepal, analyses showed that higher educational attainment and wealth index were associated with lower anxiety and depression, while financial instability related to employment was associated with greater anxiety and depression. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of socioeconomic and educational factors in shaping mental health outcomes in non-WEIRD, low-resource settings, and support the need for structurally focused policy interventions.

Download
Share Feedback

Share

COinS