A Study of depression status and its causes in the Iranian POWs

Abstract EN

Background : Giving 17 hypotheses, the aim of this research is to study depression status and its causes in Iranian Prisons of War (POWs).

Method : So, 100 repatriated POWs as a sample and also 100 Non- Prisoned Combatants (NPCs) as a study group were selected by simple random sampling.

All of them were inhabitants of Ardabil city.

A researcher-made checklist of stress experiences and Beck Depression Inventory were used as data collecting instruments.

Results : The results showed that 36% of POWs have suffered from a moderate (or severe) depression and this was 10% in the second group (NPCs).Standard deviation and mean depression in POWs were 6.2 and 29, but in NPCs were 1.5 and 8, respectively.

And the POWs have experienced all IS-type stressors of the above check list.

Meanwhile, POWs depression was related with a number of variables such as: military rank, military branch, stress experiences of captivity, and economic status.

Conclusion : The POWs, who are provided with high level of economic status, have little depression rate and vice versa.

It seems that pertinent economic status plays a supportive role against depression.