Psychological Well-Being in the Gulf States: The New Arabia Felix

Justin Thomas PhD.

Published by Palgrave Macmillan 2013

This book brings together much of the psychopathology focused research literature undertaken in the Gulf region (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Oman). I saw the need for this book almost as soon as I arrived in the UAE, six years ago. As psychologist with an interest in mental health, it is very important to explore the regional replications and epidemiological work already undertaken. This work existed, but there was little in the way of review, and there was no text that attempted a broader compilation and synthesis. I hope Psychological Well-Being in the Gulf States, goes some way toward filling that gap, and that other researchers and students find it useful. 

Mental health is an increasingly important topic globally, and nations that have undergone rapid social transformations can experience elevated rates of psychological problems that were once rare. In the context of the Gulf, wealth from oil and gas has radically transformed  landscapes, lifestyles and human relationships. Transformation however is seldom painless, and numerous psychosocial challenges have followed the much celebrated progress. The psychological implications of the region's meteoric modernization have not received sustained examination until now. Tensions between traditional ways of life, rooted in cultural and Islamic values, and the influx of foreign lifestyles are implicated in the rise of common psychological problems such as depression, addiction and eating disorders. This book attempts to examine these issues, providing an in-depth exploration of the psychological consequences of transition. This work also looks at how the region's traditional cultural values may foster resilience against psychological problems, and how these values have a vital role to play in developing effective therapies and culturally grounded prevention strategies.

The book also details some of my own primary research in to mood and eating disorders. This is primary research, I'm proud to say, that was supported by RIF grants from Zayed University's Research Office.