Abstract
The ongoing most vulnerable and disadvantaged living patterns in remote areas have taken a heavy burden on the psychological well-being (PWB) of indigenous people and settlers. Past studies have explored their living status in PWB, but little concentration has been given to the interaction effects of their prime demographic factors on their PWB. To discourse this gap, the present study attempted to explore the interaction effects of indigenous people and settlers’ race, educational status, profession, and income on the PWB combined in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was implemented on 600 (360 male and 240 female) indigenous people and settlers using the 54-item Bangla Psychological Well-Being (PWB) Scale, who were purposively selected from three districts, such as Khagracchari, Rangamati, and Bandarban in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Data were gathered by getting help from the trained research assistants. The independent sample t-test, correlation, and four-way ANOVA were applied to examine the interaction effects of variables. Indigenous people based on the findings of the main effects expressed better PWB than settlers, while service holders experienced higher PWB than other professions, namely farmer, businessman, and unemployed. Results of the interaction effect revealed that graduated service holders of indigenous people from middle and lower-income backgrounds reported PWB significantly higher in intensity as compared to graduated service holders of settlers with middle and lower income. Furthermore, indigenous people and settlers’ age was significantly related to PWB. The study findings indicate an increase in the PWB of indigenous people and settlers by creating culturally sensitive recovery-focused mental health services and raising mental health literacy and community-based intervention. Simultaneously, both the government and non-government organizations (NGOs) should develop appropriate policies and funds to accomplish these measures as early as possible.
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We would also like to provide gratitude to all respondents and the funding authority.
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The research was funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Bangladesh, through a Doctoral Fellowship against (letter no. BIMOK/SCHOLARSHIP/1.157/Ph.D./Part-1/5625, dated September 07, 2018).
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Bairagi, A., Baroi, B., Hossan, M.R. et al. Psychological Well-Being of Indigenous People and Settlers: An Interaction Effect of Race, Profession, Education, and Income. Trends in Psychol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-024-00378-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-024-00378-z