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Cross-National Study of Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Help: Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Arabs in Israel

Author

Listed:
  • Alean Al-Krenawi

    (Spitzer Department of Social Work; Center for Bedouin Studies and Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel.alean@bgumail.bgu.ac.il)

  • John R. Graham

    (Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.)

  • Yasmin Z. Dean

    (Community Strategies, City of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.)

  • Nada Eltaiba

    (Al-Balqa' Applied University, Salt, Jordan.)

Abstract

Background: Help-seeking processes provide critical links between the onset of mental health problems and the provision of professional care. But little is known about these processes in the Arab world, and still less in transnational, comparative terms. This is the first study to compare help-seeking processes among Muslim Arab female students in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. Aims: The present study compares the attitudes of Arab Muslim female students from Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards mental health treatment. Method: A convenience sample of 262 female Muslim-Arab undergraduate university students from Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Arab students in Israel completed a modified Orientation for Seeking Professional Help (OSPH) Questionnaire. Results: Data revealed that nationality was not statistically significant as a variable in a positive attitude towards seeking professional help; year of study, marital status and age were found to be significant predictors of a positive attitude towards seeking help. High proportions of respondents among the nationalities referred to God through prayer during times of psychological distress. Conclusions: The discussion considers implications for professional service delivery and programme development. Future research could extrapolate findings to other Arab countries and to Arab peoples living in the non-Arab world.

Suggested Citation

  • Alean Al-Krenawi & John R. Graham & Yasmin Z. Dean & Nada Eltaiba, 2004. "Cross-National Study of Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Help: Jordan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Arabs in Israel," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 50(2), pages 102-114, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:50:y:2004:i:2:p:102-114
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764004040957
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S.M. Razali & M.A.M. Najib, 2000. "Help-Seeking Pathways Among Malay Psychiatric Patients," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 46(4), pages 281-289, December.
    2. Moshe Semyonov & Noah Lewin-Epstein & Iris Brahm, 1999. "Changing Labour Force Participation and Occupational Status: Arab Women in the Israeli Labour Force," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 13(1), pages 117-131, March.
    3. Hunte, Pamela A. & Sultana, Farhat, 1992. "Health-seeking behavior and the meaning of medications in Balochistan, Pakistan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 1385-1397, June.
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