"What happens in this house, does not stay in this house:" Examining the relationship between cultural mistrust and mental health help seeking behaviors amongst African Americans

ABSTRACT

The history of African Americans within the United States is one that is deeply complex. Historical trauma both directly and/or vicariously experienced has fostered a sense of cultural mistrust amongst African Americans that have since become transgenerational and resulted in rigid attitudes, beliefs, and opinions for many. Due to these experiences, African Americans continue to be a race that is underrepresented in mental health services and treatment though they experience symptomology at the same rate as their White counterparts. The purpose of this study was to examine African Americans help seeking behaviors and levels of cultural mistrust amidst a global pandemic and heightened sociopolitical tensions across the United States. Two hundred twenty participants completed an online survey that assessed their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help and their level of culture of mistrust. Linear regression analyses were used to analyze the data and it was founded that the older the participant, the higher levels of cultural mistrust they possessed. Additionally, participants who endorsed past and/or current therapy experiences had more favorable attitudes towards receiving treatment. Though demographic variables were held constant throughout the analysis of this study, both participant stigma and educational attainment were found to have a relationship with participants attitudes toward seeking help and cultural mistrust levels. The significance of this study was to highlight the ongoing need for the advancement of mental health services within African American communities and is one of the first to examine this phenomenon during a pandemic. Limitations, recommendations, and clinical and training implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)