An investigative study of the influence of religion on help seeking behaviors in the field of mental health

The present study was undertaken to assess the influence of religion on help seeking behaviors regarding mental health. Participants (n = 167) were volunteers from three different churches of Christian denominations who anonymously completed questionnaires regarding their religiosity and their attitude toward seeking help from a mental health professional. Analysis of the data found that subjects who belonged to liberal denominations of Christianity were more likely to seek help from a mental health professional for mental health issues than subjects belonging to more traditionally conservative denominations of Christianity. The study also found that subjects belonging to conservative denominations of Christianity scored higher on an instrument assessing religiosity. Future efforts to bring the mental health and faith communities together must focus on factors of conservative faiths that may be deterring church members from seeking help for mental health issues.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. Applied Psychology and Professional Mental Health Counseling

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Darroch, Kristen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Miller, Matthew

• Mental health services--Utilization; Religion
• Psychiatric and Mental Health

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/91

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1090