The role of self-stigma in seeking mental health services in the Muslim American community
[Thesis]
Habib Abdullah
Mendoza, Richard
Alliant International University
2016
53
Committee members: Bloch, Ellin; Simonian, Inga
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-339-74094-2
Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology
Alliant International University
2016
The purpose of this study was to assess the role of self-stigma towards the use of mental health care in the Muslim American population. Research has shown that self-stigma plays an important role in accessing mental health care, but currently there is no research on the role of self-stigma in seeking mental health care for this population. There is limited research that shows that the Muslim population is underserved, but current findings have been unable to offer an explanation as to why this exists (Al-Krenawi, 2005). Therefore, this study identified whether self-stigma is a crucial component of this populations' underutilization of care. It was hypothesized that the majority (over 50%) of Muslim Americans sampled would show high self-stigma towards mental health care as measured by the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale. Moreover, it was proposed that a majority (over 50%) of Muslim Americans sampled would not have accessed any prior mental health services or are not currently utilizing mental health services (as measured by the demographic questionnaire). After statistical analysis these hypotheses were not supported as stated. Other hypotheses included in the study were that there would be a significant relationship between generation level (foreign born vs. US born) and self-stigma that influences attitudes towards seeking psychological help, there would be significant differences between Muslim gender and self-stigma towards seeking psychological help, and that irrespective of generation level and gender there would be a significant relationship between past, current, and future access to mental health services and self-stigma towards seeking psychological help by Muslims. These hypotheses were supported after statistical analysis. Limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Mental health; Islamic Studies
Social sciences;Health and environmental sciences;Generation level;Islam;Mental health barriers;Muslim americans;Muslims;Self-stigma