Ethnic identity & responses to mental ill-health in South Asian women
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of ethnic identity in structuring responses to mental ill-health in British women of South Asian origin
IRAS ID
152743
Contact name
Niamh McNamara
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bedfordshire
Research summary
It has been suggested that South Asian women are less likely than other groups to use mental health services (Sheikh & Furnham, 2000) often as a result of concerns relating to cultural exclusion (Bowl, 2007). Ethnic identities are social identities or that part of our self-concept derived from group membership. They are central to well-being as successful service engagement depends on the identity dynamics that exist between service user and provider (Stevenson, McNamara & Muldoon, 2014). It is proposed that a sense of shared identity between both parties contributes to a positive service encounter characterised by trust and co-operation which encourages further service use (Haslam, Reicher & Levine, 2012). However, stigmatisation can undermine these dynamics by reducing a sense of shared identity between service users and providers. If the service user comes from a stigmatised or minority group their expectation of being treated in terms of their group stereotype (Pinel, 2002), along with a lack of shared identity can lead to an absence of trust, poor communication and service disengagement – a process described as the ‘social curse’ (Stevenson et al., 2014). It is likely that such identity-based processes underpin service experiences and intentions to use services among South Asian women but to date this has not been explored in a mental health context. The aim of this project is to investigate the social identity factors that influence willingness to engage with mental health services in British women of South Asian origin. To do this, we will adopt a qualitative approach to explore how identity structures understandings of mental ill-health and influences coping responses amongst South Asian women.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1054
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion