IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v48y2002i4p305-317.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Perception of and Attitude towards Mental Illness in Oman

Author

Listed:
  • Samir Al-Adawi

    (Department of Behavioural Sciences and Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 35, Al-Khoudh 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Tel/Fax: (968) 545203adawi@squ.edu.om)

  • Atsu S.S. Dorvlo

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 36, Al-Khoudh 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman)

  • Suad S. Al-Ismaily
  • Dalal A. Al-Ghafry
  • Balquis Z. Al-Noobi

    (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabiliatation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114-1198, USA)

  • Ahmed Al-Salmi

    (Department of Behavioural Sciences and Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 35, Al-Khoudh 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman)

  • David T. Burke
  • Mrugeshkumar K. Shah

    (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114-1198, USA)

  • Harith Ghassany
  • Suma P. Chand

    (Department of Behavioural Sciences and Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 35, Al-Khoudh 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman)

Abstract

Background: As conceptions of mental illness are often dictated by prevailing socio-cultural factors and the philosophy of the time, there is little research to substantiate how mental illness is perceived in the Arab world in the light of both traditional and more recent modernization and acculturation processes. Aims: To examine whether social factors exert an influence on a person's attitude towards people with mental illness (PWMI) in the rapidly changing country of Oman. Methods: This study compares the response elicited from medical students, relatives of psychiatric patients and the general Omani public on the causes of mental illness, attitudes toward PWMI and the care and management of people with mental illness. Results: This study found no relationship between attitudes towards PWMI, and demographic variables such as age, educational level, marital status, sex and personal exposure to people with mental illness. Both medical students and the public rejected a genetic factor as the cause of mental illness; instead they favoured the role of spirits as the aetiological factor for mental illness. There were favourable responses on statements regarding value of life, family life, decision-making ability, and the management and care of mental illness. However, both medical students and the public thought that PWMI tend to have peculiar and stereotypical appearances and the majority preferred that facilities for psychiatric care should be located away from the community. Although the relatives of psychiatric patients were concerned about the welfare of mental patients, their responses varied and were often contingent upon their expectations. Conclusions: The data suggest that neither socio-demographic factors nor previous exposure to PWMI was related to attitudes towards PWMI. Although the attitudes of Omanis toward PWMI appear to fluctuate in complex ways, traditional beliefs on mental illness have yet to be eroded by exposure to a biomedical model of mental illness. This study largely supports the view that the extent of stigma varies according to the cultural and sociological backgrounds of each society.

Suggested Citation

  • Samir Al-Adawi & Atsu S.S. Dorvlo & Suad S. Al-Ismaily & Dalal A. Al-Ghafry & Balquis Z. Al-Noobi & Ahmed Al-Salmi & David T. Burke & Mrugeshkumar K. Shah & Harith Ghassany & Suma P. Chand, 2002. "Perception of and Attitude towards Mental Illness in Oman," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 48(4), pages 305-317, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:48:y:2002:i:4:p:305-317
    DOI: 10.1177/002076402128783334
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/002076402128783334
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/002076402128783334?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. O.A. Abiodun, 1991. "Knowledge and Attitude Concerning Mental Health of Primary Health Care Workers in Nigeria," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 37(2), pages 113-120, June.
    2. Kee-Lee Chou & Ki-Yan Mak & Po-Kin Chung & David Chan & Kimmy Ho, 1996. "Attitudes Towards Mental Patients in Hong Kong," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 42(3), pages 213-219, September.
    3. Panter-Brick, Catherine, 1991. "Parental responses to consanguinity and genetic disease in Saudi Arabia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1295-1302, January.
    4. Markku Ojanen, 1992. "Attitudes Towards Mental Patients," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 38(2), pages 120-130, June.
    5. John Read & Alan Law, 1999. "The Relationship of Causal Beliefs and Contact With Users of Mental Health Services To Attitudes To the 'Mentally Ill'," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 45(3), pages 216-229, September.
    6. M. Fakhr El-Islam & Sanaa I. Abu-Dagga, 1992. "Lay Explanations of Symptoms of Mental Ill Health in Kuwait," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 38(2), pages 150-156, June.
    7. Harpham, Trudy, 1994. "Urbanization and mental health in developing countries: A research role for social scientists, public health professionals and social psychiatrists," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 233-245, July.
    8. Fernando Parra, 1985. "Social Tolerance of the Mentally Ill in the Mexican American Community," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 31(1), pages 37-45, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed M Sewilam & Annie MM Watson & Ahmed M Kassem & Sue Clifton & Margaret C McDonald & Rebecca Lipski & Smita Deshpande & Hader Mansour & Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar, 2015. "Suggested avenues to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Middle East," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(2), pages 111-120, March.
    2. Abdalhadi Hasan & Mahmoud Musleh, 2017. "The impact of an empowerment intervention on people with schizophrenia: Results of a randomized controlled trial," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 63(3), pages 212-223, May.
    3. Ehab Ali Sorketti & Nor Zuraida Zainal & Mohamad Hussain Habil, 2013. "The treatment outcome of psychotic disorders by traditional healers in central Sudan," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 59(4), pages 365-376, June.
    4. Klimentina Krstanoska-Blazeska & Russell Thomson & Shameran Slewa-Younan, 2021. "Mental Illness Stigma and Associated Factors among Arabic-Speaking Religious and Community Leaders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.
    5. Takashi Yamauchi & Tsuneo Semba & Anju Sudo & Nobuko Takahashi & Hirofumi Nakamura & Kunihiro Yoshimura & Hitoshi Koyama & Shoko Ishigami & Tadashi Takeshima, 2011. "Effects of psychiatric training on nursing students’ attitudes towards people with mental illness in Japan," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(6), pages 574-579, November.
    6. 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.
    7. Sara Ali & Danah Elsayed & Saadia Elahi & Belal Zia & Rania Awaad, 2022. "Predicting rejection attitudes toward utilizing formal mental health services in Muslim women in the US: Results from the Muslims’ perceptions and attitudes to mental health study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(3), pages 662-669, May.
    8. Samir Al-Adawi & Zakiya Al-Busaidi & Sara Al-Adawi & David T. Burke, 2012. "Families Coping With Disability Due to Brain Injury in Oman," SAGE Open, , vol. 2(3), pages 21582440124, July.
    9. R. Padmavati & R. Thara & Ellen Corin, 2005. "A Qualitative Study of Religious Practices by Chronic Mentally Ill and their Caregivers in South India," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 51(2), pages 139-149, June.
    10. Monica Zolezzi & Maha Alamri & Shahd Shaar & Daniel Rainkie, 2018. "Stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment in the Arab culture: A systematic review," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(6), pages 597-609, September.
    11. Badeea El-kashalla, 2024. "Conventional Therapy and Psychotherapy (The Case of the Arab-Bedouin Society, the Healer Sheikh and the Psychologist)," International Journal of Culture and History, Macrothink Institute, vol. 11(1), pages 1-1, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Adrian Furnham, 2009. "Psychiatric and Psychotherapeutic Literacy: Attitudes To, and Knowledge of, Psychotherapy," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(6), pages 525-537, November.
    2. Kee-Lee Chou & Ki-yan Mak, 1998. "Attitudes To Mental Patients Among Hong Kong Chinese: a Trend Study Over Two Years," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 44(3), pages 215-224, September.
    3. Adrian Furnham & Masako Murao, 2000. "A Cross-Cultural Comparison of British and Japanese Lay Theories of Schizophrenia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 46(1), pages 4-20, March.
    4. Marcus Y.L. Chiu & Kenneth K.L. Chan, 2007. "Community Attitudes Towards Discriminatory Practice Against People with Severe Mental Illness in Hong Kong," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 53(2), pages 159-174, March.
    5. Yuan Ma & Heng Liang & Han Li & Yaping Liao, 2020. "Towards the Healthy Community: Residents’ Perceptions of Integrating Urban Agriculture into the Old Community Micro-Transformation in Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-21, October.
    6. Saheed Wahass & Gerry Kent, 1997. "A Comparison of Public Attitudes in Britain and Saudi Arabia Towards Auditory Hallucinations," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 43(3), pages 175-183, September.
    7. Henry Stephens Aghanwa, 2004. "Attitude Toward and Knowledge about Mental Illness in Fiji Islands," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 50(4), pages 361-375, December.
    8. Pykett, Jessica & Campbell, Niyah & Fenton, Sarah-Jane & Gagen, Elizabeth & Lavis, Anna & Newbigging, Karen & Parkin, Verity & Williams, Jessy, 2023. "Urban precarity and youth mental health: An interpretive scoping review of emerging approaches," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    9. Ross M.G. Norman & Deborah Windell & Rahul Manchanda, 2012. "Examining differences in the stigma of depression and schizophrenia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 58(1), pages 69-78, January.
    10. Izutsu, Takashi & Tsutsumi, Atsuro & Islam, Akramul Md. & Kato, Seika & Wakai, Susumu & Kurita, Hiroshi, 2006. "Mental health, quality of life, and nutritional status of adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Comparison between an urban slum and a non-slum area," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(6), pages 1477-1488, September.
    11. Huayu Yang, 1989. "Attitudes Towards Psychoses and Psychotic Patients in Beijing," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 35(2), pages 181-187, June.
    12. Jay P. Graham & Verónica Corella-Barud & Raquel Avitia-Diaz & Patrick Gurian, 2005. "The In-Home Environment and Household Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Informal Urban Settlements in Northern México," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-9, December.
    13. Yaqing Gao & Xiaoyi Mi & Yinping Wang & Siyu Zou & Hong Zhou, 2021. "Association between Household Crowding and Violent Discipline and Neglect of Children: Analysis of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in 26 Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    14. Alean Al-Krenawi & John R. Graham & Menachim Ophir & Jamil Kandah, 2001. "Ethnic and Gender Differences in Mental Health Utilization: the Case of Muslim Jordanian and Moroccan Jewish Israeli Out-Patient Psychiatric Patients," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 47(3), pages 42-54, September.
    15. Ming-De Chen & Yen-Ching Chang, 2016. "Personnel attitudes toward people with mental illness at a psychiatric hospital in Taiwan," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 62(4), pages 361-368, June.
    16. Lund, Crick & Breen, Alison & Flisher, Alan J. & Kakuma, Ritsuko & Corrigall, Joanne & Joska, John A. & Swartz, Leslie & Patel, Vikram, 2010. "Poverty and common mental disorders in low and middle income countries: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(3), pages 517-528, August.
    17. Melissa Pyle & Alison Brabban & Laura Drage & Helen Spencer & Douglas Turkington & Anthony Morrison, 2015. "Associations between internalised stereotypes of psychosis and emotional dysfunction in people with psychosis not taking antipsychotic medication," Psychosis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(3), pages 217-227, July.
    18. Robert Sévigny & Yang Wenying & Zhang Peiyan & Jacques D. Marleau & Yang Zhouyun & Su Lin & Li GuowangUOWAN & Xu Dong & Wang Yanling & Wang Haijun, 1999. "Attitudes Toward the Mentally Ill in a Sample of Professionals Working in a Psychiatric Hospital in Beijing (China)," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 45(1), pages 41-55, March.
    19. Matthias C. Angermeyer & Herbert Matschinger, 2005. "The Stigma of Mental Illness in Germany: A Trend Analysis," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 51(3), pages 276-284, September.
    20. Sandra Dietrich & Herbert Matschinger & Matthias C. Angermeyer, 2006. "The Relationship between Biogenetic Causal Explanations and Social Distance toward People with Mental Disorders: Results from a Population Survey in Germany," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 52(2), pages 166-174, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:48:y:2002:i:4:p:305-317. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.