Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Wives of Men Working or Living Abroad from Sylhet: Exploring Impact on Mental Health

This article finds out the prevalence of anxiety and depression among women whose husbands work abroad and also explores the significance of consequential impact on their mental health imposed by the situation as compared to those who live with their husbands. Based on a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature and empirical studies, the research sheds light on the implied challenges faced by these women, considering factors such as separation, communication barriers, and social support. The results showed significant differences between the study and the control groups. The prevalence of anxiety and depression among the study group was 51.2% and 44.1% and the average anxiety and depression score were 19.82 and 21.24 respectively. The combined odds ratio (OR) for anxiety and/or depression between the study and control groups was 9.87 with a 95% confidence interval of [5.49, 17.86] and a chi-squire test p-value <0.001.The findings are important as they may contribute to a deeper understanding of the mental health implications in this specific demographic, providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and support networks.