The prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms in a rapidly changing bilingual culture: An exploratory study

This study was done in Goa, India, to measure symptom prevalence as it related to sociocultural integration in two groups, Christians and Hindus, representing two different levels of exposure to change. From 1510 until 1961, Goa remained under the Portuguese and part of the originally Hindu population converted to Christianity. While all could speak the native Konkani, the Portuguese language and Latin European culture penetrated the two groups to varying extent, more deeply among Christians. In 1961, the Portuguese rule in Goa was suddenly terminated after an Indian military action lasting less than 24 hrs. Since then, Goa has been exposed to the sudden decline in the status of the Portuguese language and of Latin European culture.