RELIGIOSITY, PERSONAL DISTRESS AND MINOR PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY AMONG BLACK STUDENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The aim of the study was to examine the proposition that religiosity and the related factor, spirituality, contribute to lower personal distress among students. The sample comprised 624 students: 314 Grade 12 secondary school students and 310 third-year social science university students in South Africa. Results indicate that the majority of the students show a high degree of religious belief and religious involvement. Some religious variables – such as being a born-again Christian and considering religion as important – were associated with decreased Perceived Stress. Minor psychiatric morbidity as measured with the Self-reporting Questionnaire (SRQ; WHO, 1994) was positively associated with some religious beliefs and involvement, while meaning and direction in life was inversely associated with the SRQ score. All three religious coping styles were inversely associated with perceived stress. Contrary to expectations it was found that some of the religious coping styles were positively associated with minor psychiatric morbidity, especially the depression scores of the SRQ. Findings show that some religious variables were positively associated with mental health while others were inversely or not related, thus only partially supporting the religion-mental health link.

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Immigration-related stressors and mental health problems among Asian-American Immigrants

International Journal of Population Studies ◽

10.18063/ijps.2017.01.002. ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 22

Author(s):

Sizhe Liu ◽

Wei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Asian American ◽

Limited English Proficiency ◽

English Proficiency ◽

Religious Involvement ◽

Asian American Immigrants

Focusing on Asian-American immigrants in the National Latino and Asian American Study, this work examines (1) whether immigration-related stressors are associated with 12-month depressive disorder and suicidal ideation, and (2) how individual religious involvement moderates the associations. Findings from regression analyses reveal that limited English proficiency increases the risk of both 12-month depressive disorder and suicidal ideation. No significant differences in 12-month depressive disorder and suicidal ideation are found by age at immigration. Most importantly, religious coping — frequently seeking comfort from religion — buffers the negative effects of limited English proficiency on suicidal ideation. Our findings suggest the importance of individual religious involvement in helping Asian-American immigrants cope with stress associated with immigration. Mental health professionals may need to integrate religious coping mechanisms into the clinical setting to offer more effective treatments that are sensitive to individuals’ religious and spiritual needs.

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Investigating a Relationship between Perceived Stress, Religious Coping, and Religiosity in Migrant Muslim Women

Journal of Muslim Mental Health ◽

10.3998/jmmh.265 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nana-fatima Taini Ozeto ◽

Thérèse Allan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Muslim Women ◽

Positive Role ◽

Migrant Populations ◽

Mental Health Difficulties ◽

And Migration ◽

The Uk ◽

The Relationship

Previous research has identified the heightened amount of perceived stress experienced by migrants in the West. Muslim women specifically may be at a greater exposure to perceived stress, easily being identified as different from others due to the observance of the hijab (Ahmed, 1992). However, Muslims in the UK generally have one of the lowest rates of accessing mental health services (Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health, 2014). Current research shows the positive role religion plays in managing perceived stress and the potential development of mental health difficulties. Few studies have been conducted on migrant populations and even fewer with female Muslim migrants. The current study aimed to investigate religiosity, as a mediator of the relationship between religious coping and perceived stress in migrant Muslim women. It also aimed to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and migration. The results found religiosity to mediate the relationship between religious coping and perceived stress, that is, individuals with higher religiosity used religious coping and had lower perceived stress. However, there was no significant relationship between experiences of migration and perceived stress. These findings provide possible directions for mental health practitioners when working with clients from such backgrounds.

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Faith and FACES: Black Parents’ Perceptions of Autism, Faith, and Coping

Council review ◽

10.1177/00144029211034152 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 001440292110341

Author(s):

Jamie N. Pearson ◽

Jared H. Stewart-Ginsburg ◽

Kayla Malone ◽

Janeé R. Avent Harris

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Religious Involvement ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Black Families ◽

Black Parents ◽

Written Responses ◽

Raising Children ◽

Grounded Theory Method ◽

And Coping

Faith, spirituality, and religious involvement can promote stress-related coping for parents raising children with autism, yet little research has explored religious coping in Black parents raising children with autism. Given the high levels of religiosity and increased incidence of autism in Black families, the purpose of this qualitative study was to highlight perceptions of Black parents raising children with autism on mental health and religious coping within the context of a parent advocacy intervention efficacy study. We used a grounded theory method with structural coding of group session transcripts and written responses to center the voices of seven Black parents raising children with autism. Three significant findings emerged: (a) mental health conceptualization; (b) double disenfranchisement; and (c) communal coping.

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Common mental disorders among seasonal migrant farmworkers in Northwest Ethiopia

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-021-03068-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kassahun Alemu Gelaye ◽

Malede Mequanent Sisay ◽

Temesgen Yihunie Akalu ◽

Destaw Fetene Teshome ◽

Haileab Fekadu Wolde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Northwest Ethiopia ◽

Migrant Farmworkers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Reporting Questionnaire

Abstract Background Seasonal migrant farmworkers in Ethiopia are a vulnerable segment of the population facing numerous threats to their mental health. This research aimed to determine the magnitude of common mental disorders (CMDs) and its associated factors among seasonal migrant farmworkers in the northwest of Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 950 seasonal migrant farmworkers were selected randomly. CMDs were assessed using the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) and a structured questionnaire was employed to collect the associated characteristics of socio-demographic data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable binary logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence level was used to declare a statistically significant association with CMDs. Results The prevalence of CMDs was found to be 23.05% (219/950; 95% CI 20.47–25.84) among seasonal migrant farmworkers. The prevalence of psychological stress was 74.53% (708/950; 95% CI 71.65–77.20). Having a daily income below USD 5 (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.10–2.15), moderate perceived stress (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.18, 5.36), severe perceived stress (AOR = 16.15, 95% CI: 8.96, 29.11), and heat-related illness (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.30) were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing CMD. On the other hand, those seasonal migrant farmworkers who migrated for the first time (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.23–0.65) and those who received health related information (AOR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.85) were less likely to have CMDs. Conclusion In this study, CMDs were found to be prevalent among seasonal migrant farmworkers. These findings highlight the importance of systematic development of community-based mental health services in combination with rural primary health care centers and an integrated approach to the health care of farmworkers such as screening, early identification, and treatment of CMDs of seasonal migrant farmworkers.

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Impact of coping styles on post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among pregnant women exposed to Hurricane Katrina

American Journal of Disaster Medicine ◽

10.5055/ajdm.2012.0095 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 199-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Olurinde Oni, MD, MS ◽

Emily W. Harville, PhD ◽

Xu Xiong, MD, DrPH ◽

Pierre Buekens, MD, PhD

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Hurricane Katrina ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic

Objective: Experiencing natural disasters such as hurricanes is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.We examined the role played by perceived stress and coping styles in explaining and modifying this association among pregnant women exposed to Hurricane Katrina.Design: The study comprised 192 women (133 from New Orleans and 59 from Baton Rouge) who were pregnant during Hurricane Katrina or became pregnant immediately after the hurricane. Women were interviewed regarding their hurricane experience, perceived stress, and mental health outcomes. Coping styles was assessed using the Brief COPE, PTSD symptoms using the Post-Traumatic Checklist, and depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Depression Scale. Multivariable regression models were run to determine the effects of coping styles on mental health and the interactions among coping styles, hurricane experience, and perceived stress on mental health.Results: Apart from the positive reframing and humor coping styles, all coping styles correlated positively with PTSD or depression (p 0.05). The instrumental support, denial, venting, and behavioral disengagement coping styles were significantly associated with worsened PTSD symptoms among those who reported higher perceived stress (p 0.05). Use of a humor coping style seemed to reduce the effect of perceived stress on depressive symptoms (p = 0.02 for interaction) while use of instrumental support (p = 0.04) and behavioral disengagement (p 0.01) were both associated with more symptoms of depression among those who perceived more stress. There were no strong interactions between coping style and hurricane experience.Conclusion: Coping styles are potential moderators of the effects of stress on mental health of pregnant women.

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Psychometric qualities of the English Coping Scales of the Stress and Coping Inventory in a representative UK sample

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-021-00528-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Teresa O’Rourke ◽

Sanja Budimir ◽

Christoph Pieh ◽

Thomas Probst

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Cigarette Consumption ◽

English Version ◽

The Uk ◽

And Coping

Abstract Background The Coping Scales of the Stress and Coping Inventory (SCI; Satow in Stress- und Coping-Inventar (SCI): Test- und Skalendokumentation. Stress and coping inventory. http://www.drsatow.de, 2012) are well-established German self-report scales measuring five coping styles: Positive Thinking, Active Coping, Social Support, Support in Faith, and Alcohol and Cigarette Consumption. The purpose of this study was to translate the scales into English and to psychometrically evaluate this English version of the SCI coping scales with a representative sample of the UK population. Methods The coping scales of the SCI were forward–backward translated into English and administered to a representative sample according to age, gender, education, and region for the UK (N = 1006). Internal consistencies, factorial validity, and construct validity were assessed for both the original factor structure of the SCI, as well as a newly identified factor structure. Results The results for the original factor structure indicated good internal consistency and construct validity. The adaptive coping styles of this version were positively correlated with resilience and negatively with perceived stress. The maladaptive coping strategy, alcohol and cigarette consumption, showed the opposite correlations. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the English version resulted in a five-factor structure, but some items loaded on different factors than in the German version. These new factors were Religious Coping, Social Support, Various Coping, Alcohol and Cigarette Consumption, and Reflective Coping. The novel factors showed similar correlations to resilience and perceived stress as the original factor structure. Only religious coping did not significantly correlate to perceived stress. Confirmatory factor analysis with the original factor structure of the German SCI coping scales revealed poor model fit for the English SCI coping scales. Conclusion The English SCI coping scales consistently and accurately measure five different coping styles. Nevertheless, the original factor structure of the SCI coping scales, when applied to an English-speaking sample, did not fit the data well. The new factor structure established by EFA is only preliminary and needs further validation in future large samples using the English version of the SCI coping scales.

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