TY - JOUR
T1 - Berom cultural beliefs and attitudes towards mental health problems in Nigeria
T2 - a mixed-methods study
AU - Jidong, Dung Ezekiel
AU - Ike, Tarela Juliet
AU - Tribe, Rachel
AU - Tunariu, Aneta D.
AU - Rohleder, Poul
AU - Mackenzie, Andrew
PY - 2022/5/28
Y1 - 2022/5/28
N2 - Beliefs and attitudes are essential in mental health discourse. However, cultural beliefs and attitudes towards mental health problems (ATMHPs) among the Berom people of Nigeria are under-researched. The present studies made original contributions using the Cultural Identity Model (CIM) as predictors to investigate ATMHPs, and semi-structured interviews to further explain the potential impact of cultural beliefs on MHPs. In study-1, N = 140 participants responded to questionnaires on ATMHPs and were analysed using multivariate multiple regression in RStudio. Study-2 interviewed N = 13 participants (n = 7 laypeople; n = 6 practitioners). Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Study-1 findings showed CIM as a non-significant predictor of ATMHPs. However, in study-2, four themes emerged: Cultural beliefs that MHPs are caused by spiritual forces; Berom indigenous preference for traditional healing; Christian religious healing in Berom communities; and Western-trained mental health practitioners' perception of lay service-users. The authors concluded that the Berom traditional and Christian religious healings are beneficial.
AB - Beliefs and attitudes are essential in mental health discourse. However, cultural beliefs and attitudes towards mental health problems (ATMHPs) among the Berom people of Nigeria are under-researched. The present studies made original contributions using the Cultural Identity Model (CIM) as predictors to investigate ATMHPs, and semi-structured interviews to further explain the potential impact of cultural beliefs on MHPs. In study-1, N = 140 participants responded to questionnaires on ATMHPs and were analysed using multivariate multiple regression in RStudio. Study-2 interviewed N = 13 participants (n = 7 laypeople; n = 6 practitioners). Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Study-1 findings showed CIM as a non-significant predictor of ATMHPs. However, in study-2, four themes emerged: Cultural beliefs that MHPs are caused by spiritual forces; Berom indigenous preference for traditional healing; Christian religious healing in Berom communities; and Western-trained mental health practitioners' perception of lay service-users. The authors concluded that the Berom traditional and Christian religious healings are beneficial.
U2 - 10.1080/13674676.2021.2019205
DO - 10.1080/13674676.2021.2019205
M3 - Article
SN - 1367-4676
VL - 25
SP - 504
EP - 518
JO - Mental Health, Religion and Culture
JF - Mental Health, Religion and Culture
IS - 5
ER -