Attitudes Toward Depression in Arab-American Muslims: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Religion is a significant factor in health attitudes in Arab and Muslim countries.
• The influence of religious beliefs on mental health among Arab and Muslim populations in the United States remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of religious beliefs on the attitudes of Arab-American Muslims toward mental illness, particularly depression.
• To explore the intersection of faith and mental healthcare perceptions within this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study was conducted using the Depression Awareness Questionnaire (DAQ).
• The study surveyed Arab-American Muslims over 18 years old at a psychoeducational seminar in Dearborn, Michigan (October 2017-October 2018).

Main Results:

• 85.3% viewed depression as a medical illness, and 78.7% believed in treatment efficacy.
• However, 32.0% feared antidepressant addiction, and 34.7% attributed depression to supernatural causes like black magic or the evil eye.
• 37.3% believed closeness to God could prevent depression.

Conclusions:

• Arab-American Muslims in the study recognized depression's severity and the importance of treatment.
• Religious beliefs demonstrably played a substantial role in their approach to mental health and illness perception.