Moderating effects of stigma-related barriers on ethnic identity dimensions and mental health service utilization among Black adults in the US

IF 2.8 2区社会学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL

International Journal of Intercultural Relations Pub Date : 2025-07-16 DOI:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102243

Rongxiu Wu , Nhi-Ha T. Trinh , David Mischoulon , Aderonke Bamgbose Pederson

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Significant disparities in mental health service utilization persist, particularly among Black adults in the United States. We focused on ethnic identity dimensions of centrality and assimilation and addressed their distinction from the commonly used term of acculturation.

Method

This study utilized gamma regression to examine the relationship between ethnic identity and help-seeking behavior within a large sample of Black adults (N=1117) and investigated the moderating effects of stigma-related barriers on this relationship.

Results

The findings revealed statistically significant differences in centrality (extent to which a person identifies with their race), and assimilation (desire for integration into the mainstream parts of society) across gender, ethnicity, and age groups. Participants aged 45–65 scored higher in centrality compared to those aged 25–44. In terms of assimilation, males scored higher than females, and African/Afro-Caribbean immigrants scored higher than African Americans. Stigma-related barriers, including stigma within the workplace and concerns about being perceived as an unfit parent were notable deterrents to seeking mental health care. Centrality and assimilation were negatively associated with help-seeking intentions, such that higher levels of centrality and assimilation were related to lower intentions to seek mental health care for personal/emotional issues and suicidal thoughts. Stigma-related barriers moderated the relationship between education and help-seeking behavior. As stigma-related barriers increased, Black adults with higher education levels experienced a 17 % decrease in help-seeking likelihood for personal/emotional issues (RR = 0.83, p < .01) but a 16 % increase in help seeking for suicidal thoughts (RR = 1.16, p < .05).

Conclusion

These findings highlight the moderating effect of stigma-related barriers in relationships between ethnic identity dimensions and mental health service utilization among Black adults, underscoring the need for targeted, culturally informed interventions.

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美国黑人成人的种族认同维度和心理健康服务利用中耻感相关障碍的调节作用

在心理健康服务的利用方面存在显著差异，特别是在美国的黑人成年人中。我们关注中心性和同化的种族认同维度，并讨论了它们与文化适应这一常用术语的区别。方法以1117名黑人成人为研究对象，利用伽玛回归分析种族认同与求助行为之间的关系，并探讨耻感相关障碍对这一关系的调节作用。结果研究结果显示，在性别、种族和年龄组中，中心性（一个人对自己种族的认同程度）和同化（融入社会主流的愿望）在统计上存在显著差异。与25-44岁的参与者相比，45-65岁的参与者中心性得分更高。在同化方面，男性得分高于女性，非洲/加勒比非洲移民得分高于非洲裔美国人。与耻辱感相关的障碍，包括工作场所内的耻辱感和对被视为不称职父母的担忧，是寻求精神保健的显著障碍。中心性和同化与寻求帮助的意图呈负相关，因此，较高的中心性和同化水平与为个人/情感问题和自杀念头寻求精神卫生保健的意愿较低有关。与耻辱感相关的障碍调节了教育与求助行为之间的关系。随着耻辱感相关障碍的增加，受过高等教育的黑人成年人在个人/情感问题上寻求帮助的可能性降低了17. % (RR = 0.83, p <； .01)，但在自杀念头方面寻求帮助的可能性增加了16. % （RR = 1.16, p <； .05）。结论这些发现突出了耻感相关障碍在黑人成人种族认同维度与心理健康服务利用关系中的调节作用，强调了有针对性的、文化知情的干预措施的必要性。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Intercultural Relations Multiple-

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

14.30%

发文量

122

期刊介绍： IJIR is dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of theory, practice, and research in intergroup relations. The contents encompass theoretical developments, field-based evaluations of training techniques, empirical discussions of cultural similarities and differences, and critical descriptions of new training approaches. Papers selected for publication in IJIR are judged to increase our understanding of intergroup tensions and harmony. Issue-oriented and cross-discipline discussion is encouraged. The highest priority is given to manuscripts that join theory, practice, and field research design. By theory, we mean conceptual schemes focused on the nature of cultural differences and similarities.