The Impact of Religious Cultural and Traditional Beliefs and Superstitions in Shaping the Understanding of Mental Disorders and Mental Health Treatment among Arab Muslims

Abstract

This research explored the impact of religious, cultural, and traditional beliefs on Arab Muslims' understanding of mental disorders and their treatment, with a particular emphasis on the role of Islamic theology. Employing an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, the study first conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 12 Arab Muslim participants (6 men and 6 women) to examine their mental health perspectives. Thematic analysis of these interviews informed the development of a quantitative survey, which was administered to 169 Arab Muslim participants using Qualtrics. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS 29. The integration of qualitative and quantitative findings revealed that Arab Muslim participants exhibited moderate to high levels of religiosity, which, along with their cultural and traditional beliefs influenced their mental health perceptions and treatment approaches. Notably, a discrepancy between participants' self-identification as religious and their actual religious practices suggests a cultural value placed on modesty. The preference for traditional healing practices and supernatural explanations for mental disorders indicates a strategic approach to navigating mental health stigma. Furthermore, education was identified as a crucial element in dispelling mental health misconceptions, with higher levels of education associated with a more accurate understanding of mental disorders and an increased likelihood of utilising formal mental health services. These insights highlight the challenges of integrating cultural, religious, and educational factors in shaping mental health perceptions and underscore the need for culturally and religiously sensitive mental health interventions and education. This study advocates for bridging the gap between traditional beliefs and formal mental health services to improve access and attitudes towards mental health care among Arab Muslims in Australia.