Depression and Help-Seeking Among Native Hawaiian Women

J Behav Health Serv Res. 2018 Jul;45(3):454-468. doi: 10.1007/s11414-017-9584-5.

Abstract

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to gain insight about Native Hawaiian (NH) women's experiences with, and viewpoints of, depression and help-seeking behaviors (N = 30: 10 from the university and 20 from the community). More women reported depression in the interviews than through their Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) responses. Quantitative data revealed 57% of the women had ever received mental health help (80% of university vs. 45% of community sample). There was a range of satisfaction reported for various types of mental health care, with satisfaction being the highest for spiritual/religious advisor/folk healer. During the interviews, one woman reported that she is currently receiving professional care and five women are seeking help from their family/social network. Future research should explore reasons for the differences in the quantitative and qualitative findings regarding depression and associated help-seeking as well as in the satisfaction levels by type of help-seeking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / psychology*
  • Depression / therapy*
  • Female
  • Hawaii / epidemiology
  • Hawaii / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Mental Health Services*
  • Middle Aged
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander / psychology*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / ethnology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Social Support
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Women's Health
  • Young Adult