Cross-National Comparison of Middle Eastern University Students: Help-Seeking Behaviors, Attitudes Toward Helping Professionals, and Cultural Beliefs About Mental Health Problems

Abstract

This study is the first to use identical data collection processes and instruments in Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, and Israeli Arab communities regarding help-seeking behaviors and attitudes towards perceived cultural beliefs about mental health problems. Data is based on a survey sample of 716, undergraduate students in the 4 countries, 61% female and 39% male. Results indicate that respondents within the various countries, based on nationality, gender and level of education, vary in terms of recognition of personal need, beliefs about mental health problems (i.e. stigmatization), and the use of traditional healing methods versus modern approaches to psychiatric therapy. The conclusion discusses differences between our respondents' expectations and prevailing mental health service provision and delivery.

Factors Affecting the Quality of Life for People with Schizophrenia in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study

“…Therefore, the patient and family prefer to hide the disease and don't seek professional help [30][31][32][33][34][35][36].…”

Problems and Preferences for Source of Help Among United Arab Emirates University Students

“…The religious equivalent of a traditional modern counselor is called a Mutawaa; a religious individual who is often consulted on matters of psychological distress and personal issues. Such individuals often provide non-psychological interventions and treatments, such as traditional medicine and readings from the Qur'an to drive away evil spirits that are believed to possess a person's body (Al-Darmaki 2003;Al-Darmaki and Sayed 2009;Al-Darmaki et al 2010;Al-Krenawi et al 2008;Sayed 2003). In this way, the cause of the 'illness' can be seen as external, which provides the distressed individual relief from feelings of shame.…”

“…In addition, the stigma of mental illness in Arab culture is likely to encourage individuals to seek help from their social support system and traditional helpers (Al Riyami et al 2009;Al-Darmaki and Sayed 2009;Al-Krenawi et al 2008;Eapen and Ghuash 2004;Osman and Afifi 2010). Although professional counseling in UAE has recently become viewed as a valuable method of treatment for psychological problems, it is not as well-developed nor widely accessible as it is in Western cultures.…”

“…Avoidance of professional services is likely to be due to factors such as the stigma of mental illness (Al-Krenawi et al 2008;Vogel et al 2007), fear of self-disclosure and fear of emotions (Hinson and Swanson 1993;Komiya et al 2000;Vogel et al 2007), fear of treatment (Kushner and Sher 1991;Vogel et al 2007), a preference to solve problems alone (Rochlen and O'Brien 2002), a preference to seek help from sources outside the mental health system (Kushner and Sher 1991). Also likely to be involved is negative attitudes toward counseling (Cook et al 1984;Fischer and Farina 1995;Rochlen et al 1999), and type of problem (i.e., personal/emotional) experienced (Cepeda-Benito and Short 1998; Kahn and Nauta 1997;Rule and Gandy 1994;Soliman 1993;Vogel et al 2007).…”

“…In the same vein, a number of studies have identified other likely barriers to seeking professional help, such as gender differences (Al-Krenawi et al 2008;Kushner and Sher 1991;Rule and Gandy 1994;Vogel et al 2007), availability and accessibility of counseling services, students' perceptions of counseling (Al-Krenawi et al 2008;Cook et al 1984), students' appraisals of their own personal problem-solving abilities (Kahn and Nauta 1997), perceived severity of problems (Hinson and Swanson 1993), and cultural beliefs and social norms (Al Riyami et al 2009;Al-Darmaki 2003;Al-Darmaki and Sayed 2009;Al-Krenawi et al 2008;Ludwikowski et al 2009;Sayed 2002;Soliman 1993;Vogel et al 2007;Webster and Fretz 1978). Moreover, reluctance to seek counseling could also be attributed to some personality factors, such as low self-esteem (Al-Darmaki 2003;Vogel et al 2007) or perceived external locus of control (Wills and Depaulo 1991).…”