Mental Health Attitudes and Perspectives of Arab Americans: Exploring Preferred Mental Health Resources, Perceived Barriers to Treatment, and Telemental Health
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
ISSN: 1747-9894
Article publication date: 26 August 2024
Issue publication date: 21 November 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Arab Americans experience higher rates of mental illness and lower rates of treatment compared to the general population. While some factors leading to this disparity have been proposed, data in the literature remains lacking. This study aims to explore the mental health perspectives of Arab Americans living in Southeastern Michigan regarding barriers to mental health treatment, treatment resource preferences and telemental health preferences.
Design/methodology/approach
Responses were collected through an anonymous bilingual Qualtrics survey from both Arab and non-Arab participants (n = 294, ages 18+) in Southeastern Michigan. Participants’ perceptions regarding mental health barriers, resource preferences and telemental health were assessed. Comparisons were performed between Arabs and non-Arabs, and among Arabs.
Findings
Compared to non-Arabs, Arabs were less likely to seek mental health treatment from a therapist or a primary care provider and were more likely to not seek treatment. Arabs were more likely than non-Arabs to list fear of being called crazy by others and cultural barriers. With regards to preferences on telemental health utilization, no significant differences between Arab and non-Arab participants were found.
Originality/value
The results provide insights into Arab-American mental health perspectives, especially pertaining to mental health barriers, resources and telemental health preferences, adding a novel perspective on the mental health preferences of Arab-American subgroups, especially regarding gender and age differences. This study highlights the Arab-American population as a nuanced and diverse group, emphasizing the importance of future studies to show a more complete picture of Arab-American mental health.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) and the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) for help in distributing our survey.
Funding: No funding was received for conducting this study.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Statements and declarations: The authors have no financial or proprietary interests in any material discussed in this article.
Financial interests: The authors declare they have no financial interests.
Ethics approval: Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Wayne State University –IRB #22-07-4777. The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. No identifying information was collected from individual participants included in the study.
Data and study materials are available upon request to the corresponding author.
Citation
Kidess, G.G.I., Browning, L., Oska, N., Hinchey, L., Saleem, A., Knill, S., Elhage, M. and Javanbakht, A. (2024), "Mental Health Attitudes and Perspectives of Arab Americans: Exploring Preferred Mental Health Resources, Perceived Barriers to Treatment, and Telemental Health", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 525-539. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-02-2024-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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