The focus of Dr. Mwangi’s work is on sociocultural foundations of mental health in African settings. In particular, her research has examined the relationship between anxiety and depression and the Quality of Life (QoL) of Maasai women living in resource-poor settings in Northern Kenya. In the context of this project, she tested the effectiveness of a model of psychoeducation for treating mild and moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

This work illuminated not only the socio-cultural lens that Maasai women in Northern Kenya use to define and understand anxiety, depression, and QoL; but also methods that Masaai communities use to treat anxiety and depression. Narrative sessions revealed that these women experienced symptoms of mental illness akin to those associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which the women experienced during the hot and harsh drought seasons. The criterion for diagnosing SAD includes symptoms that are characteristic of a recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) with a seasonal pattern, usually beginning in the fall and continuing into winter months. This criterion is specific for people living in countries in the Northern hemisphere and excludes people and women or people living closer or at the equator. Accordingly, one of the conclusions of Dr. Mwangi’s work is a recommendation to expand DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis of SAD to include people at risk of this disorder who live closer to the equator. This is important for several reasons, but especially so that women who experience seasonal patterns of SAD can access treatment options available for the disorder.