Singapore
seen regional hub of depression - Survey
Reuters. April 27, 1999.
SINGAPOREANS are more likely to have suffered from depression,
stress and fatigue than most of their Asian counterparts during the past
year, a consumer health survey showed on Tuesday.
But while Singaporeans were more depressed and anxious than average -- despite living in one of the most affluent of Asian societies -- Filipinos suffered the most ailments and Taiwan nationals the least, the survey by market researchers Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) said.
TNS asked 5300 people in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand about their incidences of illness and treatment over the last 12 months for their survey titled "Asian Health Pulse."
All 1000 Filipinos questioned claimed to have suffered from at least one ailment in the past year, each suffering from an average of 8.9 illnesses. Diarrhoea was the main problem.
Thailand was a close second with 99 percent of the 300 respondents experiencing at least one illness and also averaging 8.9 per person, but constipation was the top ailment.
This contrasted with the 88 percent of Taiwan respondents, who averaged 4.1 illnesses and cited no main ailments.
Hong Kong citizens suffered the highest incidence of insomnia followed by Singaporeans, who were mostly plagued by upset stomachs and migraine headaches.
Michelle Spratt, regional director for TNS's healthcare research division, said the company did not analyse the data qualitatively and thus could not offer reasons for the results.
TNS Singapore director Elaine Hamilton added the results were perceptions of illness and therefore not necessarily actual incidences in all cases.