Amanda Clarke, & Dr. Argero Zerr
A better understanding of the potential impact religion and culture have on the stigma of Postpartum depression (PPD) and the relationship with attitudes toward seeking mental health services is essential because lack of maternal professional, social, or familial support is a predictor of PPD (Reid & Taylor, 2015). Previous research has demonstrated significant ethnic disparities in health care, including in mental health care (SAMSHA, 2021). However, there is a gap in the research literature regarding the stigma of Postpartum Depression (PPD) by culture and religion and the relationship between seeking mental health support. In a recent study in India, more than half of the participants thought ghost possession, doing sin, or black magic caused PPD (Poreddi et al., 2020) – further highlighting the importance of assessing cultural and religious variation in beliefs. The present study aims to examine how religion and culture relate to the stigma of postpartum depression (PPD) and its relationship with seeking mental health services. Participants included 43 men, 41 women, and 4 non-binary participants ranging from 19 to 72 years old (M = 36.39). Participant ethnicity included 69% White, 19% Hispanic/Latinx, 11% Asian, 11% Black/African American, and 4% Native American or Other. Participants were recruited online via Prolific and completed the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale-Revised (Brenner et al., 2021), Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Help Scale (Fischer & Turner, 1970), and Mexican American Cultural Values Scale (Knight et al., 2010). Results demonstrated no significant relation between the stigma of PPD and religiosity (r = -.09, p = .42), Mexican (r = -.10, p = .33), or American cultural orientation (r = -.08, p = .45). Attitudes towards seeking help for mental health were negatively correlated with the stigma of PPD (r = -.42, p < .001). Additional analyses will examine the religiosity of Mexican and American orientations moderate the relationship between the stigma of PPD and attitudes toward seeking mental health services. Findings may help clinicians and educators better understand the perceptions of PPD, including how religious and cultural factors may relate to those perceptions and help improve awareness and reduce the stigma associated with PPD.