The prevalence, risk factors and relationship with acculturation of anxiety symptoms among adults in TRNC

Objective: In recent years, anxiety disorders have become an increasingly global health problem and studies have focused on its prevalence and causes. In the current study prevalence, risk factors of possible anxiety symptoms and association with acculturation was examined in TRNC. Methods: The sample of the current study included 974 individuals over the age of 18 who live in TRNC. The sample was determined by multi-stratified random sampling method considering age, gender, city/village and geographic region population quotas. The data were collected in April-May 2018. The Sociodemographic Information Form, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Cultural Attitudes Scale (CAS) were used to collect the data. For comparison of those with and without possible anxiety symptoms (PAS) in terms of sociodemographic variables chi-square, for analyze correlation between BAI and CAS subscale Pearson correlation analysis was used. Possible risk factors in PAS formation were determined by logistic regres-sion analysis. Results: The prevalence of PAS in weighted sample of adult population in TRNC was found to be 19.1% (Mean±SD=8.77±9.58). While this rate was 15.9% (Mean±SD=7.85±9.60) in Cyprus born, it was seen as 23% (Mean±SD=9.96±9.61) in Turkey borns. It was determined that as the assimilation (p=0.004, r=0.128) score increases, the BAI score increases among Cyprus born. Being a woman, not married, being Turkey born, low income level, unemployment and presence of physical/psychiatric illness, assimilation subscale of CAS among Cyprus born has been identified as risk factors for PAS. Conclusion: The study showed that PAS rates among TRNC are higher in both host and immigrants than many other countries in the world and have similar sociocultural characteristics with other high prevalence regions. Sociocultural characteristics such as economic exploitation, colony history, unemployment, conflict and migration are the basis for the formation of anxiety disorders as well as other mental disorders. In understanding the high prevalence characteristics of the PAS, it is necessary that each society should be evaluated in its own social structure and acculturation should be taken into consideration in the prevention of anxiety disorders. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2020; 21(6.000): 617-624]