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Palestinian Muslim College Students’ Attitudes to Mental Health Treatment: A Comparative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Wahiba Abu-Ras

    (School of Social Work, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 11530, USA)

  • Amir Birani

    (Clinical Social Work, Therapist Daliyat AL-Karmel, Daliyat Al-Karmel 3005600, Israel)

  • Zulema E. Suarez

    (School of Social Work, Loyola University, Chicago, IL 60660, USA)

  • Cynthia L. Arfken

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA)

Abstract

This study examined the association between the degree of religiosity, combined with cultural beliefs, social stigmas, and attitudes towards mental-health treatment in two groups, who, despite having similar cultural and religious affiliation, have experienced different socio-political contexts: Palestinian Muslim college students living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Israel. The study was guided by Tanhan and Young’s (2021) conceptual framework. Methods: A snowball recruitment strategy was applied, using a cross-sectional survey. A total sample size was 214 students, 105 from the OPT and 109 from Israel. Results indicate that students from the OPT ( n = 105) did not differ from those living in Israel ( n = 109) on religiosity using the Islamic Belief scale, or Attitudes Towards Mental Health treatment ( F (1, 189) = 1.07, p = 0.30). However, students from the OPT had higher confidence in mental-health professionals ( M = 15.33) than their counterparts ( M = 14.59), and women had higher confidence ( M = 16.03) than men ( M = 13.90). The reliance on traditions for Muslim students over Western mental-health approaches is a critical factor in predicting the attitudes towards students’ mental problems and their chosen treatment. Sociopolitical context played a significant role in shaping attitudes toward mental-health providers.

Suggested Citation

  • Wahiba Abu-Ras & Amir Birani & Zulema E. Suarez & Cynthia L. Arfken, 2022. "Palestinian Muslim College Students’ Attitudes to Mental Health Treatment: A Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16005-:d:989066
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    References listed on IDEAS

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