Representation of mental illness in Christian self-help bestsellers

Webb, Marcia; Stetz, Kathy; Hedden, Kristin

doi:10.1080/13674670801978634

Cited by 30 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 60 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This differs greatly from previous research in which the majority of participants reported that they attend services weekly (Caplan et al, 2013;Dunn & O'Brien, 2009). While it is possible to suggest that demographic factors, such as greater acculturation or lack of an ethnic enclave, could explain this absence of religious participation, another possibility consistent with the literature (Copel, 2008;Webb, Stetz & Hedden, 2008;Webb & Whitmer, 2001) is that some religious teachings served to invalidate their lived experiences which these women felt were at the root of their depression. Some participants believed that religious leaders would not understand their experiences and would attribute their depression to causes that these women did not endorse.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Barriers to Treatment Engagement for Depression among Latinas

Caplan

Whittemore

2013

Issues in Mental Health Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In spite of successful treatment options for depression, the majority of Americans with severe depression do not receive treatment. Latinos are even less likely to engage in treatment than non-Hispanic Whites. The purpose of this study is to explore barriers to treatment engagement and, more specifically, how childhood adversity and gender-based violence (GBV) contribute to a lack of perceived support for treatment engagement. Experiences of GBV and childhood adversity can call into question deeply held family, cultural, and religious values, and affect the perceived quality of the therapeutic relationship and attitudes about depression treatment. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used to understand the experiences of a sample of 12 Latinas who were part of a diabetes prevention study (n = 67) and had been referred for treatment because of elevated symptoms of depression. Results indicate that the often-cited barriers to mental health care (i.e., language barriers, economic considerations, and lack of illness recognition) did not serve as deterrents for Latinas in this study. Participants recognized that they were depressed and agreed with the assessment of depression. However, none of the women followed up on the recommendation to seek care. What has emerged from this study is how cultural values, such as familismo and marianismo, and the lack of responsiveness from family and religious leaders in the context of exposure to GBV and childhood adversity created significant barriers to treatment engagement. This study highlights the need for nurses to screen for these exposures and to engage in shared decision making about treatment.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Barriers to Treatment Engagement for Depression among Latinas

Caplan

Whittemore

2013

Issues in Mental Health Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…that You will keep and protect them from the evil one" (Meyer, 2006(Meyer, , p. 1720 In raising the spectre of the supernatural as a means to self-actualisation and wellbeing, our findings concur in part with and develop Webb, Stetz & Hedden's (2008) content analysis of Christian self-help bestsellers, which showed that Biblical teaching frequently refers directly and indirectly to what can be considered 'psychological disorders' (Webb, 2017) -specifically mood disorders: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic disorders, bi-polar. Indeed, Meyer frequently using the word 'epidemic' to refer the prevalence to these disorders across the population.…”

Section: Mental Healthsupporting

confidence: 63%

'Overcoming' the 'Battlefield of the Mind'

Claydon

Whitehouse-Hart

2018

Language and Psychoanalysis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article offers a psychoanalytically informed discursive analysis of the teachings of two leading Christian digital evangelists in the field of Christian 'Self-help' texts: Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. Meyer and Osteen both have global popularity and multimedia presences. Influenced by psychosocial theory, we combine linguistic analysis with the ideas of Kleinian and post-Kleinian object relations. Exploring Meyer's and Osteen's media usage, we argue that digital and online tools have enhanced their connective ability with their immense audiences. It is argued that such discursive spaces create new psychosocial possibilities and contradictions for their messages of emotional health and self-governance through a combination of scripture and psychological approaches common in secular self-help communication. Both preachers focus on changing 'language' and 'thought', employing techniques and scripture that require the believer to excessively self-focus, and this process revolves emotionally around the construction of images of an omnipotent, good God and the mind as a spiritual battleground between 'good' objects (God) and 'bad' (Satan).

show abstract

“…One study examined books by Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Beth Moore and others (Webb, Stetz, & Hedden, 2008). Content analysis demonstrated that demonic forces were Downloaded by [] at 10:13 16 May 2015 cited more often than any other potential source of depression.…”

Section: Working Lay Theologies Of Mental Illnessmentioning

confidence: 97%