Attitudes of Qatari citizens towards marriage and family counselling
The global expansion of counselling into a wide range of social and cultural groups has raised questions about the acceptability of counselling for people living in societies who do not share Western traditions of psychological therapy. The present study is contextualised within reviews of models of marriage and family counselling, and an analysis of recent social changes in Qatari society. Attitudes to family and marriage counselling were investigated in a sample of 247 adult citizens of Qatar, a Gulf State in which counselling services have become established in recent years. A questionnaire measure of attitudes to marriage and family counselling was constructed, and validated for the purposes of the study. Results showed a generally positive attitude toward counselling, with attitude differences associated with age, educational level and place of domicile. Few gender differences were found. These results are discussed in the light of previous research into public attitudes to psychology and counselling, and their implications for practice and further research are reviewed.
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