en. This loss of family support then causes sadness and grief and generates depression.
Meleis (1982) explains that conflict and loss of family support in such homes also creates a stress situation which produces not only depression but physical wear-and-tear on the body resulting in a variety of psychosomatic illnesses. Indeed, several studies show that Kuwaiti women with depressive illness also have numerous psychosomatic complaints (Chaleby, 1985, 1987; Meleis, 1982).
The withdrawal of family support is particularly devastating to the Kuwaiti female due to socialization processes. This point is made by Ibrahim (1985) who notes that Kuwaiti females are raised to be heavily dependent on social reinforcement (approval from family and friends and others generally). The need for social support as a reinforcer with respect to Kuwaiti females has implications which concern these women's locus of control.
Locus of control (the extent to which one believes that the cause of their life circums
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