PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG WAR WIDOWS: A STUDY OF PUNJAB

Mental health is among important public health issues as it is a major contributor (14%) to the global burden of diseases worldwide. Widows are at higher risk of mental health problems due to gender disadvantaged factors such as lack of family support, financial dependence, single parenting and stereotypes related to remarriage. The present study aims to examine the level of psychological distress of war widows. This study includes 51 war widows between the age range of 40-80 years presently residing in Punjab.  Psychological distress was assessed by administering Dass-21 (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Descriptive analysis was used and t test was applied to study the significant mean difference related to psychological distress and remarriage. Further, the Focus Group Discussions were conducted to understand and identify the reasons of high psychological distress present amongst the respondents. It was found that majority of the respondents have mild to moderate psychological distress and widows who were re married are less stressful as compared to who are not re- married.