Date Approved
12-9-2011
Embargo Period
3-3-2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. Applied Psychology and Professional Mental Health Counseling
Department
Psychology
College
College of Science & Mathematics
Advisor
Miller, Matthew
Subject(s)
Mental health services--Utilization; Religion
Disciplines
Psychiatric and Mental Health
Abstract
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.
Recommended Citation
Darroch, Kristen, "An investigative study of the influence of religion on help seeking behaviors in the field of mental health" (2011). Theses and Dissertations. 91.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/91
