Personality and Mental Health among Khoekhoegowab and Oshiwambo speakers in Namibia

The studies of this project provide a strong test of the universality of current models of personality traits and psychological disorders and lay groundwork for locally informed models for use in Namibia.

Current knowledge in psychology is based disproportionately on evidence from western, industrialized samples. The studies of this project will elucidate personality concepts and structure among Khoekhoe-speakers; will test the patterns and frequencies of psychological disorder symptoms among three language groups; and will explore views of mental health and illness across Namibia. This will provide a strong test of the universality of current models and will lay groundwork for locally informed models of personality, mental health, mental illness, and treatment in Namibia.

A mix of methods and of emic (local, bottom-up) and etic (imported, generalizable) elements will be used in a series of studies to highlight local experience while facilitating comparison with existing models. A lexical study of personality, including participants from multiple regions and ethnic groups, was conducted in 2018. This data allow us to identify locally relevant personality concepts and structure. Follow-up interviews explored the meaning of results, for example, how and when key terms are applied, what traits are more or less valued locally, and the utility of concepts commonly used in Western settings that do not occur among frequently used terms in local languages. In 2019 and 2020, another series of studies will explore patterns and frequencies of psychological disorder symptoms among three language groups , and how these relate to personality traits, and to physical health and other aspects of well being. Again follow up interviews will explore the local meaning of the quantative results, how psychological disorders and their treatment are understood and viewed locally.

• Amber Gayle Thalmayer, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social & Political Sciences, University of Lausanne
• Elizabeth Shino, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Department of Human Sciences, Psychology Section, University of Namibia
• Sylvanus Job, Department of African Studies, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
• Gerard Saucier, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, United States
• Jerome Rossier, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social & Political Sciences, University of Lausanne

 
Assistants

• Sarah Louisa Robinson, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social & Political Sciences, University of Lausanne 
• Paulus Mwetulundila, Multidisciplinary Research Centre, University of Namibia 
• Gayoung Son, Institute of Psychology, University of Basel 
• Mathilda Maletzky, Windhoek, Namibia

July-August 2019

Personality and Psychological Disorder Survey in Three Languages

The team of Khoekhoe speakers discuss the proper translation for a survey item, in Khoekhoe, during our training in Windhoek

The team of Oshiwambo-speakers for data collection in the North, at our training in Oshakati

The team of Windhoek-based psychologists for the survey in English

March 2019

Follow-up qualitative Interviews for Khoekhoegowab Personality Study

Amber Gayle Thalmayer and Sylvanus Job conduct 24 structured interviews in Windhoek, Karibib, Otavi, Witvlei, Mariental, and Keetmanshoop.

This month we also worked with a team of language experts and psychologists in Keetmanshoop, including Mr. Goeieman of the University of Nambia southern campus, to refine the translation of the mental health survey into Khoekhoegowab. With Dr. Elizabeth Shino and with assistant Mr. Paulus Mwetulundila, we also worked with a similar team of linguists and psychologists, including Dr. Mbenzi of the University of Namibia, to refine the Oshiwambo-language survey.

July-August 2018

Lexical Study in Khoekhoegowab

Amber Gayle Thalmayer, Sylvanus Job, and our driver Gotthy King Tsamaseb traveled throughout Namibia to visit our interviewers to the east (Witvlei, Omitaru, Gobabis), north (Karibib, Usakos, Otavi, Grootfontein), and south (Mariental, Keetmanshoop), and in Windhoek.

To watch

Video 1
Video 2