The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative study
IntroductionRefugees experience higher rates of mental illness such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which are documented risk factors for dementia. Faith and spiritual practices have been shown to play a significant role in patients' understanding and coping with illness...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1083367/full |
| _version_ | 1797831678189633536 |
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| author | Lana Bridi Dahlia A. Kaki Dahlia A. Kaki Behnan Albahsahli Dania Abu Baker Dania Abu Baker Xara Khan Xara Khan Raghad Aljenabi Nissma Bencheikh Melody K. Schiaffino Melody K. Schiaffino Alison A. Moore Tala Al-Rousan |
| author_facet | Lana Bridi Dahlia A. Kaki Dahlia A. Kaki Behnan Albahsahli Dania Abu Baker Dania Abu Baker Xara Khan Xara Khan Raghad Aljenabi Nissma Bencheikh Melody K. Schiaffino Melody K. Schiaffino Alison A. Moore Tala Al-Rousan |
| author_sort | Lana Bridi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionRefugees experience higher rates of mental illness such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which are documented risk factors for dementia. Faith and spiritual practices have been shown to play a significant role in patients' understanding and coping with illness, however, this field of study among refugee populations remains lacking. This study aims to address this literature gap by examining the role of faith on mental health and cognitive health among Arab refugees resettled in Arab and Western countries.Materials and methodsA total of 61 Arab refugees were recruited through ethnic community-based organizations in San Diego, California, United States (N = 29) and Amman, Jordan (N = 32). Participants were interviewed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews or focus groups. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed, translated, and coded using inductive thematic analysis and organized based on Leventhal's Self-Regulation Model.ResultsFaith and spiritual practices significantly impact participants' illness perceptions and coping procedures regardless of resettlement country or gender. Several themes emerged: (1) participants believe in the interdependent relationship between mental and cognitive health. (2) There is a self-awareness of the impact of the refugee experience and trauma on participants' mental health problems, leading to a belief of increased personal risk for developing dementia. (3) Spiritual fatalism (belief that events are predetermined by God, fate, or destiny) greatly informs these perceptions of mental and cognitive health. (4) Participants acknowledge that practicing faith improves their mental and cognitive health, and many read scripture to prevent dementia. (5) Finally, spiritual gratitude and trust are important coping procedures that build resilience among participants.ConclusionsFaith and spirituality play an important role in shaping Arab refugees' illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health. Holistic public health and clinical interventions tailored to the spiritual needs of aging refugees and incorporating religion in prevention strategies are increasingly needed to improve the brain health and wellbeing of refugees. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:56:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-55f02875453543ed85874ccbedde6392 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:56:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-55f02875453543ed85874ccbedde63922023-05-08T04:23:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-05-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.10833671083367The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative studyLana Bridi0Dahlia A. Kaki1Dahlia A. Kaki2Behnan Albahsahli3Dania Abu Baker4Dania Abu Baker5Xara Khan6Xara Khan7Raghad Aljenabi8Nissma Bencheikh9Melody K. Schiaffino10Melody K. Schiaffino11Alison A. Moore12Tala Al-Rousan13School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United StatesHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesSchool of Social Work, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United StatesHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesSchool of Social Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesSchool of Social Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesSchool of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United StatesCenter for Health Equity, Education, and Research, UCSD Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, CA, United StatesSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesIntroductionRefugees experience higher rates of mental illness such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which are documented risk factors for dementia. Faith and spiritual practices have been shown to play a significant role in patients' understanding and coping with illness, however, this field of study among refugee populations remains lacking. This study aims to address this literature gap by examining the role of faith on mental health and cognitive health among Arab refugees resettled in Arab and Western countries.Materials and methodsA total of 61 Arab refugees were recruited through ethnic community-based organizations in San Diego, California, United States (N = 29) and Amman, Jordan (N = 32). Participants were interviewed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews or focus groups. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed, translated, and coded using inductive thematic analysis and organized based on Leventhal's Self-Regulation Model.ResultsFaith and spiritual practices significantly impact participants' illness perceptions and coping procedures regardless of resettlement country or gender. Several themes emerged: (1) participants believe in the interdependent relationship between mental and cognitive health. (2) There is a self-awareness of the impact of the refugee experience and trauma on participants' mental health problems, leading to a belief of increased personal risk for developing dementia. (3) Spiritual fatalism (belief that events are predetermined by God, fate, or destiny) greatly informs these perceptions of mental and cognitive health. (4) Participants acknowledge that practicing faith improves their mental and cognitive health, and many read scripture to prevent dementia. (5) Finally, spiritual gratitude and trust are important coping procedures that build resilience among participants.ConclusionsFaith and spirituality play an important role in shaping Arab refugees' illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health. Holistic public health and clinical interventions tailored to the spiritual needs of aging refugees and incorporating religion in prevention strategies are increasingly needed to improve the brain health and wellbeing of refugees.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1083367/fulldementiareligionspiritualityAlzheimer'sSelf-Regulation ModelIslam |
| spellingShingle | Lana Bridi Dahlia A. Kaki Dahlia A. Kaki Behnan Albahsahli Dania Abu Baker Dania Abu Baker Xara Khan Xara Khan Raghad Aljenabi Nissma Bencheikh Melody K. Schiaffino Melody K. Schiaffino Alison A. Moore Tala Al-Rousan The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative study Frontiers in Psychiatry dementia religion spirituality Alzheimer's Self-Regulation Model Islam |
| title | The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative study |
| title_full | The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative study |
| title_short | The influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging Arab refugees: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | influences of faith on illness representations and coping procedures of mental and cognitive health among aging arab refugees a qualitative study |
| topic | dementia religion spirituality Alzheimer's Self-Regulation Model Islam |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1083367/full |
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