Although culture can affect both the way anxiety and depression is expressed and how treatment is accessed, there is no evidence that the treatment for these conditions does not work in all cultures and ethnicities.
Full Answer
Is anxiety expressed differently in different cultures?
How anxiety is expressed varies in significant ways across cultures. For example, in Asian cultures, anxiety may be expressed predominantly through somatic symptoms such as stomach or other gastrointestinal complaints, while those from Western cultures more frequently express anxiety through cognitive avenues.
What causes people to develop anxiety?
What causes anxiety?
- Family history of mental health conditions. Some people who experience anxiety conditions may have a genetic predisposition towards anxiety and these conditions can sometimes run in a family.
- Personality factors. ...
- Ongoing stressful events. ...
- Physical health problems. ...
- Other mental health conditions. ...
- Substance use. ...
How do different cultures experience social anxiety disorder?
Research tells us that how social anxiety disorder (SAD) presents itself can vary depending on where you live and the culture in which you are raised. This makes sense because different cultures have different social rules and expectations.
How many Americans suffer anxiety?
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and will affect nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. [4] GAD affects 6.8 million adults in the United States, and women are twice as likely to be affected as men. [5]
How can culture affect anxiety?
One of the main differences seen across cultures is the way anxiety and depression is expressed. Someone from a culture where it is common to know psychological terms, could easily describe anxiety and depression using those specific words. In other cultures, other words might be more common.
How culture affects treatment?
Culture plays a huge role in medical interactions. It influences how an individual might view an illness or treatment, for example, and affects how a physician should address an older patient. Culture may also affect the decision-making process.
How does culture influence mental health?
Culture can influence how people describe and feel about their symptoms. It can affect whether someone chooses to recognize and talk about only physical symptoms, only emotional symptoms or both. Community Support.
What are the social or cultural causes of anxiety?
Family history. You're more likely to develop social anxiety disorder if your biological parents or siblings have the condition. Negative experiences. Children who experience teasing, bullying, rejection, ridicule or humiliation may be more prone to social anxiety disorder.
What cultures refuse medical treatment?
Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Scientists are the two most common religious doctrines that may dictate treatment refusal, limitation, or preference for prayer.
What are cultural effects?
What are cultural effects? the shared behaviors and customs we learn from the institutions in our society.
How does culture differences affect mental health?
Culture is related to mental health and substance use on several different levels. First, community members from different ethnic or cultural groups may have a higher risk of mental health or substance use problems because they may experience a greater number of stressors, such as discrimination and isolation.
How does culture affect stress?
First, the cultural context shapes the types of stressors that an individual is likely to experience. Second, culture may also affect the appraisal of the stressfulness of a given event. Third, cultures affect the choice of coping strategies that an individual utilizes in any given situation.
How does cultural stigma affect mental health?
Studies show that Latinx (a gender neutral reference to a person of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the U.S.) families are also less likely to trust mental health providers compared to White families and are more likely to rely on social support from extended family and other community members.
How cultural beliefs and social attitudes can affect the diagnosis of mental health concerns?
The experience and manifestation of mental illness are influenced by an individual's social and cultural background. It can determine how individuals communicate their symptoms, influence their understanding of their illness, and determine the coping strategies they adopt and the type of interventions they seek.
Are anxiety disorders normal in some cultures?
Cultural differences in social anxiety are known to exist. Research tells us that how social anxiety disorder (SAD) presents itself can vary depending on where you live and the culture in which you are raised. This makes sense because different cultures have different social rules and expectations.
How does culture influence depression?
Cultural identity often influences the degree to which a particular individual shows physical symptoms of depression. In other words, some cultures are more comfortable reporting depressive symptoms that are physical in nature rather than mental.
Why does social anxiety disorder vary?
This makes sense because different cultures have different social rules and expectations.
What is the difference between Shubo Kyofu and Jiko Shisen Kyofu?
Shubo-kyofu: fear of a deformed body. Jiko-shisen-kyofu: fear of one's own glance. Jiko-shu-kyofu: fear of body odor. There tend to be more males than females with TKS and those with the problem generally suffer from only one fear.
What are some examples of social anxiety?
In general, there are a number of aspects of culture that may affect the expression of social anxiety. For example, the degree of individualism (idocentric focus) versus collectivist orientation (allocentric focus) can be important.
Is social anxiety a cultural or social disorder?
Overall, social fears are dependent on the cultural context in which you live. If you are being evaluated for social anxiety disorder, it is important that your mental health professional makes a diagnosis that takes into account your cultural and social context.
Can mental health professionals diagnose social anxiety?
In addition to differences in social anxiety that come about directly from varying cultures, research has shown that mental health professionals may differ in how they diagnose social anxiety disorder depending on their culture. 1 In certain cultures, there are even specific types of disorders that are similar to social anxiety disorder.
Is social anxiety common in East Asian countries?
In general, social anxiety is less common in East Asian countries. Findings from the surveys indicated 12-month prevalence rates of 7.1 to 7.9 percent in the United States versus 0.4 percent in Taiwan.
Do Asians respond to SAD treatment?
There is no research evidence to support a difference in how people respond to treatment for SAD among different cultures. However, research has shown that Asians in North America tend to delay treatment more than those of other cultures. 1
How do cultures differ in mental health?
Furthermore, cultures differ in the meaning and level of significance and concern they give to mental illness. Every culture has its own way of making sense of the highly subjective experience that is an understanding of one’s mental health. Each has its opinion on whether mental illness is real or imagined, an illness of the mind or ...
What are the factors that affect mental health?
However, mental illnesses and mental health in general are affected by the combination of biological and genetic factors, psychology, and society. This intersectionality is important, but the heavy influence of societal factors often goes ignored.
How does culture affect people?
For instance, culture affects the way in which people describe their symptoms, such as whether they choose to describe emotional or physical symptoms. Essentially, it dictates whether people selectively present symptoms in a “culturally appropriate” way that won’t reflect badly on them.
How does culture affect mental health?
Here are four ways culture can impact mental health: 1 Cultural stigma. Every culture has a different way of looking at mental health. For many, there is growing stigma around mental health, and mental health challenges are considered a weakness and something to hide. This can make it harder for those struggling to talk openly and ask for help. 2 Understanding symptoms. Culture can influence how people describe and feel about their symptoms. It can affect whether someone chooses to recognize and talk about only physical symptoms, only emotional symptoms or both. 3 Community Support. Cultural factors can determine how much support someone gets from their family and community when it comes to mental health. Because of existing stigma, minorities are sometimes left to find mental health treatment and support alone. 4 Resources. When looking for mental health treatment, you want to talk to someone who understands your specific experiences and concerns. It can sometimes be difficult or time-consuming to find resources and treatment options that take into account specific cultures factors and needs.
How can we help the mental health of minorities?
You can help address the mental health of minorities by understanding the role culture plays in mental health and by becoming trained to help those around you . Mental Health First Aid gives people the skills to identify signs of mental health and substance use challenges and action steps to take to help them get treatment.
Why are minorities left out of mental health?
Because of existing stigma, minorities are sometimes left to find mental health treatment and support alone. Resources. When looking for mental health treatment, you want to talk to someone who understands your specific experiences and concerns.
Is mental health a weakness?
Every culture has a different way of looking at mental health. For many, there is growing stigma around mental health, and mental health challenges are considered a weakness and something to hide. This can make it harder for those struggling to talk openly and ask for help. Understanding symptoms.
Do minorities get mental health care?
According to research published by The Commonwealth Fund, minorities in the United States are less likely to get mental health treatment or will wait until symptoms are severe before looking. In fact, only 66 percent of minority adults have a regular health care provider compared to 80 percent of white adults.
How many minorities have a mental health provider?
Unfortunately, only 66% of minorities have a regular health provider, compared to 80% of white adults.
What is the first step in avoiding harmful misunderstandings, removing obstacles and encouraging people of all cultures to access
Understanding the societal and cultural influences at play in mental health care is the first step in avoiding harmful misunderstandings, removing obstacles and encouraging people of all cultures to access the care they need. The National Council for Behavioral Health.
What are the factors that influence mental health?
Providing accessible, effective mental health care to Americans of all cultures requires understanding the culture-related factors that influence mental health, such as: Cultural Stigmas: Every culture has a different way of looking at mental health and, for many, there is a stigma. Some cultures see mental health challenges as a sign of weakness;
Why is culture important?
Culture goes deeper than that backdrop; the specific beliefs ingrained in us at home along with society’s culture play an important role in shaping our beliefs, norms, values and perceptions of certain ideas and behaviors.
Which population has the lowest rates of having a doctor?
At 58% and 60% respectively, Hispanic and Asian populations show the lowest rates of having a regular doctor or provider. Research also reveals that African Americans are more likely to experience a mental health disorder than whites, are less likely to seek treatment, and when they do, it is often in emergency rooms.
Prevalence Rates
Cultures at Increased Risk
- A 2001-2002 national epidemiologic survey of over 40,000 people indicated that there was an increased risk of social anxiety disorder for native Americans, younger people, and those with low incomes.2 On the other hand, the following groups were at reduced risk for SAD: 1. Males 2. Asians 3. Hispanics 4. Blacks 5. People living in urban areas
How Culture Influences Diagnosis
- In addition to differences in social anxiety that come about directly from varying cultures, research has shown that mental health professionals may differ in how they diagnose social anxiety disorder depending on their culture.1 In certain cultures, there are even specific types of disorders that are similar to social anxiety disorder. For example, in Japan and Korea, there is Taijin Kyofusho (TKS), which refers to worry about being observed or o…
Differences in Responding to Treatment
- There is no research evidence to support a difference in how people respond to treatment for SAD among different cultures. However, research has shown that Asians in North America tend to delay treatment more than those of other cultures.1
Social Anxiety Expression by Culture
- In general, there are a number of aspects of culture that may affect the expression of social anxiety. For example, the degree of individualism (idocentric focus) versus collectivist orientation (allocentric focus) can be important. In addition, those living in individualistic cultures will express social anxiety in terms of self-blame while those ...