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Racial/ethnic differences in attitudes toward seeking professional mental health services
C C Diala1, C Muntaner, C Walrath
1Department of Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University, 111 Market Pl, Room 3059, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA. diala@maxinter.net
American Journal of Public Health
|May 10, 2001
Summary
African Americans showed more positive attitudes toward seeking mental health services compared to Whites. This finding highlights potential disparities in mental healthcare access and utilization.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health service utilization persist.
- Understanding attitudes toward seeking mental health care is crucial for addressing these disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine racial/ethnic differences in attitudes toward seeking mental health services.
- To compare attitudes between African Americans and Whites.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the National Comorbidity Survey (N = 8098).
- Utilized a structured diagnostic interview on a representative US population sample.
- Employed multiple logistic regression, stratified by the need for mental health services.
Main Results:
- African Americans with depression were more likely than Whites with depression to seek mental health services (OR = 1.8).
- African Americans with severe psychiatric disorders reported less embarrassment about seeking care than Whites (OR = 0.3).
Conclusions:
- African Americans demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services compared to Whites.
- Findings suggest potential cultural or systemic factors influencing help-seeking behaviors.