Psychological Well-being in the Gulf States ― The New Arabia Felix

Few regions on earth have witnessed such rapid social change as the Arabian Gulf States. Wealth from oil and gas has radically transformed the landscapes, lifestyles and human relationships across these nations (comprising of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Oman), leading to a variety of psychosocial challenges which have not received sustained examination until now. Tensions between traditional ways of life, rooted in cultural and Islamic values, and the influx of western/foreign lifestyles and ideas (generally referred to as globalization) have become manifest in psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and eating disorders. Psychological Well-Being in the Gulf States examines these issues and looks at how the region's unique cultural context and heritage may play an important role in fostering resilience, and informing both intervention (therapy) and prevention (education) strategies, providing an in-depth exploration of the personal psychological consequences of this conflicted socio-economic transition in the Arabian Gulf region.

Justin Thomas is an experimental psychologist and cognitively orientated psychotherapist. He presently undertakes research and teaches Psychology at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Dr Thomas is also a regular columnist at The National, one of the UAE's leading daily newspapers.