{"title":"Social determinants for understanding Muslims' intentions toward seeking mental health help based on the Theory of Planned Behavior.","authors":"Leena Badran, Niveen Rizkalla, Steven P Segal","doi":"10.1177/00207640241288193","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Many have found that minorities seek help for mental health problems less than the general population. Such findings are surprising considering that minorities experience higher rates of mental health issues compared to the general population.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Employing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study aimed to explore the intentions of Muslims living in California and Israel pertaining seeking mental health help (SMHH).</p><p><strong>Method and design: </strong>A qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews guided by TPB principles was conducted with 78 participants. Thematic analysis was implemented to identify key themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five major themes were identified: 1 - Attitudes: Normalization of SMHH entangled with fear; causes and attributions of mental health disorders; perspectives on treatment. 2 - Subjective norms: Support groups; stigma and social norms. 3 - Perceived behavioral control: Personal and environmental facilitators and barriers. 4 - Intentions: High; conditioned preapproval; and low. 5 - Actual help seeking behavior: Religious figures as first resort; incorporating religious practices, and preference of Muslim therapist. Cultural beliefs, stigma, social support, and religion elements were dominant in the TPB model.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings underscored the holistic approach among Muslims toward seeking mental help incorporating medical, psychological, social, and spiritual understanding of the mental health condition. This suggests considering social and communal elements in developing interventions, education, and policy for SMHH among Muslims.</p>","PeriodicalId":14304,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"283-294"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11874497/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Social Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640241288193","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/10/6 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Many have found that minorities seek help for mental health problems less than the general population. Such findings are surprising considering that minorities experience higher rates of mental health issues compared to the general population.
Objectives: Employing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study aimed to explore the intentions of Muslims living in California and Israel pertaining seeking mental health help (SMHH).
Method and design: A qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews guided by TPB principles was conducted with 78 participants. Thematic analysis was implemented to identify key themes.
Results: Five major themes were identified: 1 - Attitudes: Normalization of SMHH entangled with fear; causes and attributions of mental health disorders; perspectives on treatment. 2 - Subjective norms: Support groups; stigma and social norms. 3 - Perceived behavioral control: Personal and environmental facilitators and barriers. 4 - Intentions: High; conditioned preapproval; and low. 5 - Actual help seeking behavior: Religious figures as first resort; incorporating religious practices, and preference of Muslim therapist. Cultural beliefs, stigma, social support, and religion elements were dominant in the TPB model.
Conclusions: The findings underscored the holistic approach among Muslims toward seeking mental help incorporating medical, psychological, social, and spiritual understanding of the mental health condition. This suggests considering social and communal elements in developing interventions, education, and policy for SMHH among Muslims.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry, established in 1954, is a leading publication dedicated to the field of social psychiatry. It serves as a platform for the exchange of research findings and discussions on the influence of social, environmental, and cultural factors on mental health and well-being. The journal is particularly relevant to psychiatrists and multidisciplinary professionals globally who are interested in understanding the broader context of psychiatric disorders and their impact on individuals and communities.
Social psychiatry, as a discipline, focuses on the origins and outcomes of mental health issues within a social framework, recognizing the interplay between societal structures and individual mental health. The journal draws connections with related fields such as social anthropology, cultural psychiatry, and sociology, and is influenced by the latest developments in these areas.
The journal also places a special emphasis on fast-track publication for brief communications, ensuring that timely and significant research can be disseminated quickly. Additionally, it strives to reflect its international readership by publishing state-of-the-art reviews from various regions around the world, showcasing the diverse practices and perspectives within the psychiatric disciplines. This approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of social psychiatry but also supports the global exchange of knowledge and best practices in mental health care.