February 10, 2023
Being illiterate is a handicap in life. According to a large international study, it seems that not knowing how to read and write is also a risk factor for depression and anxiety.
Knowing how to read and write is not given to everyone. Even today, despite notable progress in literacy worldwide, 14% of the population can read and write little or not at all. And this impacts their quality of life in various ways. Thus it is accepted that being literate increases the chances of having a better economic and social environment. And that conversely, being illiterate is associated with a greater risk of developing chronic diseases and having a reduced life expectancy. But few studies have addressed the impact of these skills on mental health.
To find out more, a team from the University of East Anglia in the UK reviewed 19 studies measuring literacy and/or mental health status in almost 2 million people living in 9 countries*. Their conclusion: “Illiterate people have more mental health problems such as anxiety and depression”. And even if a causal link cannot be deduced from this work, a strong association was found between the two elements.
Especially since even in conflict zones and poor countries – which are factors of depressive and anxiety disorders – mental health is more degraded among illiterate people than among those who can read and write.
To note : women are much more affected since they represent two thirds of illiterates in the world.
*China, Nepal, Thailand, Iran, India, Ghana, Pakistan and Brazil