Mental Health Attitudes and Perspectives in Arab American Communities: Beliefs Associated with Stigma, Treatment, and the Origins of Pathology

Arab Americans are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in the United States. The mental health of Arab Americans and their opinions on mental health, however, remain understudied despite higher than average rates of mental illness and lower rates of treatment. Culturally-mediated conceptualizations of mental illness may generate stigma, contributing to disparities in treatment. This study aimed to assess the attitudes and perspectives of Arab Americans regarding mental illness in order to address barriers to treatment. Using an anonymous bilingual Qualtrics survey, we collected data from Arab and non-Arab participants (<i>N</i> = 294; ages 18+) on their conceptualizations of the causes of mental illness and on their stigma towards mental illness and mental health treatments. Compared to non-Arabs, Arab participants reported higher average mental illness stigma and were more likely to rate psychiatric medications as addictive and unhelpful. Among Arabs, being Christian, male, and older (>29 years old) were each associated with higher stigma. Arabs were less likely than non-Arabs to endorse biological explanations for mental illness. These are among the first findings to describe mental illness stigma and conceptualizations of mental health in the Arab American population and may inform future community interventions providing culturally competent care to Arab Americans.