Health-related quality of life among Israeli Arabs diagnosed with depression: the role of illness representations, self-stigma, self-esteem, and age

Background: Studies that examined health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related factors among people diagnosed with depression, have only focused on sociodemographic and clinical factors. This study examined the contribution of illness representations (IRs), self-stigma, self-esteem, and age group (younger adults aged 18 to 64 and older adults aged 65+) to HRQoL among Israeli Arabs diagnosed with depression. Methods: A convenience sample of 160 Israeli Arabs with depression completed measures of cognitive and emotional IRs, self-stigma, self-esteem, HRQoL, and sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results: Participants reported low levels of HRQoL, with the older adults reporting significantly lower levels of HRQoL in comparison to those reported by the younger adults. Low levels of HRQoL were significantly associated with negative cognitive and emotional IRs, high levels of self-stigma, and low levels of self-esteem. Cognitive IRs, self-stigma, self-esteem, and age group were found to be the main determinants of HRQoL. Limitations: Limitations of the study include use of a cross-sectional design among culturally homogeneous sample. This limits the generalizability of our results and conclusions, and prevented us from determining causal relationships. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the role of cognitive IRs, self-stigma, and self-esteem, as well as age, in the HRQoL of individuals diagnosed with depression. Intervention programs should be mindful of these determinants in order to improve the HRQoL of individuals diagnosed with depression.