scholarly journals Religiosity and stigmatization related to mental illness among African-Americans and Black immigrants: cross-sectional observational study and moderation analysis

Author(s):  
Aderonke O Bamgbose Pederson ◽  
Valerie A Earnshaw ◽  
Roberto Lewis-Fernandez ◽  
Devan Hawkins ◽  
Dorothy Mangale ◽  
...  

Objectives Stigma about mental illness is a known barrier to engagement in mental health services. This study aimed to estimate the associations between religiosity and mental illness stigma among Black adults. Design We conducted an online cross-sectional study of Black adults in the United States (n=269, ages 18-65) from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Results Most (n=248 [92%]) participants attended religious services; while 21 (8%) never attended. Social distance was assessed as an index of past or current stigmatizing behavior. After adjusting for demographic factors, respondents with higher attendance at religious services or greater engagement in religious activities (e.g., prayer, meditation or Bible study) reported greater proximity to people living with mental health problems (RR=1.72; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.59 and RR=1.82; CI: 1.18, 2.79 respectively). Despite reporting greater past or current social proximity, respondents with higher religiosity indices also reported greater future intended stigmatizing behavior (or lower future intended social proximity) (RRs=0.92-0.98). Ethnicity moderated the association between religiosity and future intended stigmatizing behavior. Black immigrants with higher religiosity reported lower future intended stigmatizing behavior (RR=1.16 CI: 1.02-1.32) whereas African-Americans with higher religiosity reported greater future intended stigmatizing behavior (RR=0.83 CI: 0.76, 0.91). Conclusions Higher indices of religiosity were associated with lower past or current stigmatizing behavior towards individuals living with mental health problems but not lower future intended stigmatizing behavior. Focusing specifically on future intended stigmatizing behavior and the respondents level of religiosity, age, and ethnicity may be critical for designing effective stigma-reducing interventions for Black adults.

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Rajni Suri ◽  
Anshu Suri ◽  
Neelam Kumari ◽  
Amool R. Singh ◽  
Manisha Kiran

The role of women is very crucial in our society. She cares for her parents, partner, children and other relatives. She performs all types of duties in family and also in the society without any expectations. Because of playing many roles, women often face many challenges in their life including both physical and mental. Mental health problems affect women and men equally, but some problems are more common among women including both physical and mental health problems. Aim of the study - The present study is aimed to describe and compare the clinical and socio-demographic correlates of female mentally ill patients. Methods and Materials: The study includes 180 female mentally ill patients based on cross sectional design and the sample for the study was drawn purposively. A semi structured socio-demographic data sheet was prepared to collect relevant information as per the need of the study. Result: The present study reveals that the socio-demographic factors contribute a vital role in mental illness. Findings also showed that majority of patients had mental problems in the age range of 20-30 have high rate. Illiterate and primary level of education and daily wage working women as well as low and middle socio-economic status women are more prone to have mental illness. Other factors like marital status, type of family and religion etc also important factors for mental illness. Keywords: Socio demographic profile, female, psychiatric patient


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonas Tesfaye ◽  
Liyew Agenagnew ◽  
Susan Anand ◽  
Gudina Terefe Tucho ◽  
Zewdie Birhanu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Knowledge of the community regarding mental health problems has a remarkable impact on the attitude, the help-seeking path, and prevention of stigma and discrimination against patients with mental health problems. It is also the cornerstone for designing evidence-based community mental health interventions. However, the evidence is scarce in developing countries like Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the knowledge regarding mental health problems and associated factors among communities of Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Jimma zone from March 1 to 22, 2020. A structured, pretested, and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 420 study participants selected through a systematic sampling technique. The knowledge about mental health was measured by the adapted version of the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule tool. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23.0 for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done, and p-value < 0.05 and 95% CI were used to determine the predictors of the outcome variable. Results The overall knowledge score showed (188, 44.8%) of the respondents had inadequate knowledge. Moreover, (75, 17.9%) of the respondents reported psychiatric disorders are contagious, and (138, 32.9%) mentioned leaving alone is the treatment for mental illness. Talking or laughing alone and showing strange or unusual behaviors were described as symptoms of mental illness by the majority (407, 96.9%) and (403, 96.0%) of respondents, respectively. Brain dysfunction was attributed to the cause of mental illness by most (390, 92.9%) of the study participants. Similarly, the percentage of responses that attributed the causes of mental illness to possession by an evil spirit, God’s punishment, and witchcraft were significantly high (368, 87.6%), (321, 76.4%) and (259, 67.1%), respectively. Furthermore, regression analysis showed that respondents who were able to read and write were 64% less likely to have adequate knowledge than those in secondary school and above educational status (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI (0.16–0.69)). Conclusion Knowledge of mental illness among the general public was relatively poor and higher levels of education were associated with good knowledge of mental health problems; this suggests the need for due emphasis on public education to improve the mental health literacy status of the community.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-67
Author(s):  
Pashupati Mahat ◽  
Kevan Thorley ◽  
Karuna Kunwar ◽  
Smriti Ghimire

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to describe the mental health problems of Nepalese migrant workers and their family members at home in Nepal. Families of migrant workers left behind in Nepal from nine project districts were interviewed to assess the psychosocial problems and offered appropriate psychosocial counselling. We assessed 747 individual members. Ninety-five returned migrant workers received psychosocial counselling, 67% of whom were male. The majority (56%) of the returnees suffered from anxiety, 23% had depression and 11% had serious mental illness. The left-behind family members amounted to 653, 93% of whom were female. The majority (56%) had anxiety, 26% had depression, 7% expressed suicidal ideation or had attempted suicide, 2% had severe mental illness. We concluded that majority of returning workers and left behind family members suffered from anxiety and depression.


2018 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 473-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivani Manjrekar ◽  
Sandeep Patil

ABSTRACT Background: Mental health disorders globally are on a rise due to various reasons. Gender differences have been one of the reasons. Pregnancy is a stressful event in mothers and it can either exacerbate preexisting mental illness or can give rise to other mental health disorders. Studies have shown that women residing in rural areas are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. Mental health problems have detrimental effects in post-partum period. Most of the complications can be prevented if psychiatric symptoms are detected in early part of pregnancy and if women are aware of these symptoms. Aim: To find the awareness, attitude and perception towards mental illness in antenatal mothers residing in rural area of India. Setting and Design: It's a descriptive cross sectional study conducted at primary health care centers. Methods and Materials: Total of 300 antenatal mothers attending primary health care centers were recruited into the study after a written informed consent was obtained. Statistical Analysis: Basic socio demographic data were collected and a semi structured questionnaire was designed. The participants were interviewed according to the questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS software. Results and Conclusion: The mean age of the study participants was 24+5. Of the 300 study participants more than 90% were unaware that mental illness can occur during pregnancy and only around 07% could agree say that it can occur in pregnancy. There is poor awareness of mental health problems amongst pregnant women residing in rural part of southern India. The reasons for the same are lack of awareness, low levels of education, lower socio economic status, cultural beliefs and practices, lack of mental health services and stigma associated with mental illness. There is no routine screening for mental health problems during antenatal visits. If done otherwise could bring down adverse maternal outcome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-53
Author(s):  
R.K. Jha ◽  
P. Mahat ◽  
R.L. Shrestha ◽  
K.B. Kami ◽  
A. Chaudhary ◽  
...  

Introduction: Mental health is state of wellbeing in which as individual realizes in his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (WHO, 2004). Schizophrenia is a significantly disabling disease that affects social family psychological, vocational and occupational functioning (Lyngdoth, L. et al, 2016). Depressive disorders often start at a young age; they reduce people’s functioning and often are recurring (Marcus et al., 2012). Studies have shown decreased functioning ability in people having mental illness in Nepal. This study was done to explore the impact of mental illness in their daily functioning abilities. Material And Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 120 people suffering from mental illness (psychosocial disabilities) for more than six months. Mental health social workers who were facilitating mental health self-help group of treatment seeking mental health patients in the health facilities were trained and supervised during data collection. Selected participants were informed about research objectives and received consent for the study. Nepali adopted WHO-DAS-2 (Thapa et al, 2005) was used to collect both demographic and functioning abilities of research participants. Data were analysed using SPSS 20th version mainly for descriptive statistics. Results: Participants' age ranged from 18-60 years with mean age 29.53 (SD±10.8), with gender distribution 58.3% female and 41.7% male. People with psychosocial disabilities experienced in an average 9.45 days difficulty, average 6.95 days they couldn't do daily work and minimized work for average 3.55 days in the month. Female with mental health problems experienced more difficulties in daily life functioning (S1-S12 items in WHO-DAS) where moderate to severe level difficulties observed than male with mental health problems. Emotional effect due to health problems, talking with unknown people, difficulties in friendship area and doing daily activities were affected significantly statistically (p=0.01, 0.05, 0.04 and 0.02). Ethnicity and gender is significantly correlated with total affected days (r=.221, -.180 p= 0.05, table 3). Gender and total affected working days is correlated but not significant statistically. Conclusion: Level of functioning is affected significantly in people having psychosocial disabilities; impairment is higher in female, people suffering with severe form of mental illness. Findings indicate need of awareness in mental health. Further research is necessary in larger and representative population including care-taker of mentally ill person.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 102-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Bezborodovs ◽  
G. Thornicroft

SummaryWork plays an important part in everyday life. For people experiencing mental health problems employment may both provide a source of income, improved self-esteem and stability, and influence the course and outcomes of the disorder. Yet in many countries the work-place consistently surfaces as the context where people with mental health problems feel stigmatised and discriminated the most. This paper will review the existing evidence of stigma and discrimination in the workplace, consider the consequences of workplace stigma on the lives of people experiencing mental health problems, and discuss implications for further action.


Author(s):  
Kennedy Amone-P'Olak ◽  
Boniface Kealeboga Ramotuana

In Africa, the structure of the family is changing rapidly. The effects of this change on mental health remain unknown. This study investigated the extent to which different family types (intact, single-mother, and multiple) predict mental health problems in young adults in Botswana (N = 264, mean age = 21.31, SD = 2.40). In a cross-sectional design, the study sampled students registered at various faculties at the University of Botswana. The revised symptoms checklist (SCL-90-R) was used to assess symptoms of mental health problems (depression, anxiety and hostility). Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) of mental health problems for mother-only and multiple family types relative to the intact family type. Compared to the intact family type, single-mother (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.21, 4.51) and multiple family types (OR = 1.56; CI: 0.88, 2.78) were associated with an increased risk of depression. For anxiety, the ORs were 2.27 (CI: 1.18, 4.38) and 1.10 (CI: 0.56, 1.82) for single-mother and multiple family types respectively. For hostility, the ORs were 2.60 (CI: 1.34, 5.04), and 0.79 (CI: 0.44, 1.42) for single-mother and multiple family types, respectively. Family types predict mental health problems in young adults and therefore the interventions to mitigate the effects should consider family backgrounds and the ramifications of family types for treatment and care.


Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Kotera ◽  
Jaroslava Dosedlova ◽  
Denise Andrzejewski ◽  
Greta Kaluzeviciute ◽  
Makoto Sakai

AbstractPsychological stress has become a major concern, potentially leading to diverse health problems including psychopathology such as depression and anxiety. Transactional Model of Stress and Coping is an established model, conceptualizing stressful experiences via person–environment relationship. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the pathway from stress to depression/anxiety, with a focus on self-criticism (inadequate-self and hated-self) and self-reassurance (reassured-self) in Czech students who suffered from high prevalence of mental health problems. Convenience sample of 119 undergraduates completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and the Forms of the Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale. Correlation and path analyses were conducted. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines were used to aid an accurate and complete report of the study. Depression, anxiety, and stress were positively associated with inadequate-self and hated-self while negatively associated with reassured-self. Both inadequate-self and hated-self partially mediated the stress–depression and stress–anxiety relationships, whereas reassured-self only partially mediated the stress–depression relationship. Inadequate-self had greater impact on the stress–depression/anxiety pathways than hated-self and reassured-self. Findings indicate that clinical treatment may benefit from targeting the feelings of inadequacy to prevent stress progressing to psychopathology. This is particularly relevant as stress levels are rising globally. Our findings offer developments to the Transactional Model, and help practitioners and educators identify solutions to protect mental health of Czech university students.


Author(s):  
Huan Wang ◽  
Cody Abbey ◽  
Xinshu She ◽  
Scott Rozelle ◽  
Xiaochen Ma

Assessing the mental health problems encountered by school children and understanding the contributing factors are crucial to inform strategies aimed at improving mental health in low-resource contexts. However, few studies have investigated the mental health problems among disadvantaged children in poorer countries. This study examines the prevalence of mental health problems in rural China and their association with child and family characteristics. The study uses survey data from 9696 children in 120 rural primary schools and measures child mental health using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Overall, 17.9% of the sample children were found to be in the abnormal range of the SDQ total difficulties scores. The mean score was 12.93 (SD = 4.94). Abnormal scores were associated with child and family characteristics, including older child age (Odds Ratio, OR = 0.704, 95% CI: 0.611, 0.810; p < 0.001), gender (OR = 1.235, 95% CI: 1.112, 1.371; p < 0.001), and academic performance (OR = 0.421, 95% CI: 0.369, 0.480; p < 0.001). Reading time was found to be protective for mental health. Risk factors include excessive screen time (OR = 1.685, 95% CI: 1.409, 2.016; p < 0.001) and being bullied (OR = 3.695, 95% CI: 3.301, 4.136; p < 0.001). Our study suggests that future mental health illness prevention programs in rural China should consider targeting different aspects of children’s social contexts.


2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-106955
Author(s):  
Kim M E Janssens ◽  
Jaap van Weeghel ◽  
Carolyn Dewa ◽  
Claire Henderson ◽  
Jolanda J. P. Mathijssen ◽  
...  

ObjectivesStigma may negatively affect line managers’ intention to hire people with mental health problems (MHP). This study aims to evaluate line managers’ knowledge and attitudes concerning job applicants with MHP, and to assess which factors are associated with the intention (not) to hire an applicant with MHP.MethodsA sample of Dutch line managers (N=670) filled out a questionnaire on their knowledge, attitudes and experiences concerning applicants/employees with MHP. Descriptive analyses and multiple regression analyses were used.ResultsThe majority (64%) was reluctant to hire a job applicant with MHP, despite the fact that only 7% had negative and 52% had positive personal experiences with such employees. Thirty per cent were reluctant to hire an applicant if they knew the applicant had past MHP. Associated with higher reluctance to hire an applicant with MHP were the concerns that it will lead to long-term sickness absence (β (95% CI)=0.39 (0.23 to 0.55)), that the employee cannot handle the work (β (95% CI)=0.16 (0.00 to 0.33)) that one cannot count on the employee (β (95% CI)=0.41 (0.23 to 0.58)) and higher manager education level (β (95% CI)=0.25 (0.05 to 0.44)). Conversely, associated with positive hiring intentions was being in favour of diversity and/or inclusive enterprise (β(95% CI)=−0.64 (−0.87 to −0.41)).ConclusionsAs the majority of managers were reluctant to hire applicants with MHP, and even 30% were reluctant to hire applicants who had past MHP, these findings have major implications for social inclusion in the Netherlands, where about 75% of employees would disclose MHP at work.


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