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Cross-Cultural Beliefs About "Depression"

Author

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  • A. Furnham

    (Professor of Psychology, Psychology Department, University College, London)

  • R. Malik

    (Psychology Department, University College, London)

Abstract

This study set out to compare native Britons' and Asian-Britons' (from the Indian sub-continent) beliefs about the causes and cures of depression. In all 152 females took part, half of whom were middle-aged and half young. The results indicated that middle-aged Asian migrants significantly differed from the middle-aged British and young Asian samples in their beliefs about depression and anti-depressive behaviour. They also scored significantly higher than the middle-aged British women on a Western measure of psychiatric morbidity, yet they did not report depression in themselves or others. The young Asian sample, on the other hand, appear to have adopted a perception of depression that is similar to that of their British peers. It seems that the perception of the causes and symptoms of depression and appropriate anti-depressive behaviour is mediated by cultural values and beliefs that the individual has been exposed to in their formative years, which subsequently affects their tendency to recognise, report and seek help for depression. The results are discussed in terms of the literature on the 'new cross- cultural psychiatry'.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Furnham & R. Malik, 1994. "Cross-Cultural Beliefs About "Depression"," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 40(2), pages 106-123, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:40:y:1994:i:2:p:106-123
    DOI: 10.1177/002076409404000203
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Furnham, Adrian & Trezise, Lorna, 1983. "The mental health of foreign students," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 365-370, January.
    2. Kirmayer, Laurence J., 1989. "Cultural variations in the response to psychiatric disorders and emotional distress," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 327-339, January.
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    2. Krishnakshi Dutt & Martin Webber, 2010. "Access to Social Capital and Social Support Among South East Asian Women With Severe Mental Health Problems: a Cross-Sectional Survey," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 56(6), pages 593-605, November.
    3. Rashda Tabassum & Ann Macaskill & Iftikhar Ahmad, 2000. "Attitudes Towards Mental Health in an Urban Pakistani Community in the United Kingdom," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 46(3), pages 170-181, September.
    4. Viren Swami & Adrian Furnham & Kumaraswami Kannan & Dhachayani Sinniah, 2008. "Beliefs About Schizophrenia and Its Treatment in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(2), pages 164-179, March.
    5. Ravinder Barn, 2008. "Ethnicity, Gender and Mental Health: Social Worker Perspectives," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(1), pages 69-82, January.
    6. Rena Jobanputra & Adrian F. Furnham, 2005. "British Gujarati Indian Immigrants' and British Caucasians' Beliefs about Health and Illness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 51(4), pages 350-364, December.
    7. Adrian Furnham & Anuli Igboaka, 2007. "Young People's Recognition and Understanding of Schizophrenia: a Cross-Cultural Study of Young People From Britain and Nigeria," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 53(5), pages 430-446, September.

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