ERIC Number: EJ835023
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Apr
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0167
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Psychological Distress, Acculturation, and Mental Health-Seeking Attitudes among People of African Descent in the United States: A Preliminary Investigation
Obasi, Ezemenari M.; Leong, Frederick T. L.
Journal of Counseling Psychology, v56 n2 p227-238 Apr 2009
This article investigates the relationship between psychological distress, acculturation, and help-seeking attitudes among people of African descent (N = 130). Psychological distress was measured using the Global Severity Index from the Brief Symptom Inventory (L. R. Derogatis & N. Melisaratos, 1983), acculturation was measured using the Measurement of Acculturation Strategies for People of African Descent (E. M. Obasi, 2005), and help-seeking attitudes were measured using the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help scale (E. H. Fischer & J. I. Turner, 1970). Overall, as psychological distress increased, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological services became more negative. The negative relationship between psychological distress and confidence in therapist was significantly stronger for participants who expressed a cultural maintenance of traditional beliefs. Future directions for this body of research are discussed. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Health Services, Psychological Services, Help Seeking, Cultural Maintenance, Acculturation, Psychology, Correlation, Mental Health, Stress Variables, Attitude Measures, African Americans, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Negative Attitudes, Cultural Influences, Socioeconomic Status, Counseling
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Africa; United States
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Brief Symptom Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A