BY
OHAEGBU EDITH ONYEMAECHI
Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the invaluable contributions of scholars, researchers, and institutions whose works have deepened the understanding of the intricate relationship between mental and physical health. Special appreciation goes to the World Health Organization and other global health bodies for their continued advocacy and publication of reports that form the foundation for integrated health research.
Abstract
This paper employs a secondary data meta-analytical design to synthesize findings from existing systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and large-scale empirical studies published between 2019 and 2025. It investigates the interrelationship between mental and physical health among adults residing in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. Evidence reveals a significant bidirectional relationship, indicating that adults with chronic physical illnesses are 1.46 times more likely to experience depression, while those with depressive symptoms have a 1.22 times greater likelihood of developing chronic diseases such as diabetic nephropathy (Fang et al., 2022). Similarly, research across 32 European nations shows that serious mental disorders contribute to 27–67% excess physical health burdens, representing millions of additional preventable cases (Wienand et al., 2024). Data from 247 mediation studies further highlight the role of physical activity, social support, and emotional regulation in moderating this interrelationship (White et al., 2024). Drawing insights from these secondary sources and contextualizing them within AMAC, this study underscores that adult health outcomes are shaped by intertwined biological, psychological, and social determinants. It concludes that integrating mental and physical health interventions at the community level yields better health outcomes compared to fragmented treatment systems. The paper calls for policies in AMAC that strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration, promote holistic adult health, and leverage secondary data to inform local healthcare strategies.
Keywords: Mental–physical comorbidity, biopsychosocial model, psychoneuroimmunology, chronic illness, holistic health, integrated care
