Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of Stigma
Background: Black immigrants are a major growing segment of the United States population. The intersection of race, gender, and migration places black immigrant women at the confluence of multiple social determinants of health, and thus, black immigrant women experience ongoing mental health dispari...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Mary Ann Liebert
2022-03-01
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Series: | Women's Health Reports |
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Online Access: | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2021.0071 |
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author | Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson Elizabeth M. Waldron J. Konadu Fokuo |
author_facet | Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson Elizabeth M. Waldron J. Konadu Fokuo |
author_sort | Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Background: Black immigrants are a major growing segment of the United States population. The intersection of race, gender, and migration places black immigrant women at the confluence of multiple social determinants of health, and thus, black immigrant women experience ongoing mental health disparities. Understanding their perspectives, mental health needs, and associated stigma is critical to promoting positive mental health outcomes.
Methods: We conducted five focus groups (N?=?22) among women from two black immigrant community organizations from February 2019 to June 2019. We used an inductive driven thematic analysis to identify codes and themes related to mental health and the role of stigma.
Results: Overall five core themes associated with mental health and associated stigma concepts were found: The critical role of trusted sources and confidentiality, Conceptualization of mental illness and anticipated discrimination, Acculturative influence and migration as a source of emotional distress, Spirituality as a source of support and source of stigma, and Management of mental illness and addressing stigma.
Conclusion: The conceptualization of mental illness and the associated stigma may be rooted in cultural and religious belief systems among black immigrants. Cultural beliefs and biopsychosocial models can coexist positively without interrupting the pathway toward optimized engagement in mental health care. Our mental health systems need to take these factors into consideration to implement programs that effectively serve black immigrant women's mental health needs. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:22:33Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-7da9d5a7a95742c1937d629b32549eb6 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2688-4844 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:22:33Z |
publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
publisher | Mary Ann Liebert |
record_format | Article |
series | Women's Health Reports |
spelling | doaj.art-7da9d5a7a95742c1937d629b32549eb62024-01-26T05:56:39ZengMary Ann LiebertWomen's Health Reports2688-48442022-03-013130731710.1089/WHR.2021.0071Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of StigmaAderonke Bamgbose PedersonElizabeth M. WaldronJ. Konadu FokuoBackground: Black immigrants are a major growing segment of the United States population. The intersection of race, gender, and migration places black immigrant women at the confluence of multiple social determinants of health, and thus, black immigrant women experience ongoing mental health disparities. Understanding their perspectives, mental health needs, and associated stigma is critical to promoting positive mental health outcomes. Methods: We conducted five focus groups (N?=?22) among women from two black immigrant community organizations from February 2019 to June 2019. We used an inductive driven thematic analysis to identify codes and themes related to mental health and the role of stigma. Results: Overall five core themes associated with mental health and associated stigma concepts were found: The critical role of trusted sources and confidentiality, Conceptualization of mental illness and anticipated discrimination, Acculturative influence and migration as a source of emotional distress, Spirituality as a source of support and source of stigma, and Management of mental illness and addressing stigma. Conclusion: The conceptualization of mental illness and the associated stigma may be rooted in cultural and religious belief systems among black immigrants. Cultural beliefs and biopsychosocial models can coexist positively without interrupting the pathway toward optimized engagement in mental health care. Our mental health systems need to take these factors into consideration to implement programs that effectively serve black immigrant women's mental health needs.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2021.0071black immigrantmental healthstigmaspiritualityacculturation |
spellingShingle | Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson Elizabeth M. Waldron J. Konadu Fokuo Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of Stigma Women's Health Reports black immigrant mental health stigma spirituality acculturation |
title | Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of Stigma |
title_full | Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of Stigma |
title_fullStr | Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of Stigma |
title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of Stigma |
title_short | Perspectives of Black Immigrant Women on Mental Health: The Role of Stigma |
title_sort | perspectives of black immigrant women on mental health the role of stigma |
topic | black immigrant mental health stigma spirituality acculturation |
url | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/WHR.2021.0071 |
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