A Qualitative Content Analysis of Social Influences on Mental Health Care Seeking Considerations Among Pregnant Latines

Abstract

Pregnancy is a developmental period with distinct practical and attitudinal factors that affect mental health help-seeking. Within the Latine community, the inclusion of family values in therapy is associated with positive outcomes, suggesting that social relationships may contribute to help-seeking behavior for this population. This study aimed to describe the roles that social relationships play in pregnant Latines’ consideration of psychotherapy. We conducted an inductive qualitative content analysis of 25 interview transcripts assessing the acceptability of an evidence-based psychological intervention, exposure therapy, among English-speaking pregnant Latines with elevated anxiety. Emergent themes revealed that participants were motivated to seek anxiety treatment to improve family well-being, experienced internal conflict between prioritizing care for self and fulfilling their familial role, and were impacted by their close others’ attitudes toward and experiences with therapy. Findings suggest a need to address both positive and negative influences of social relationships when engaging pregnant Latines in prospective psychotherapeutic care to improve motivation, engagement, and potential outcomes, which may reduce care disparities during pregnancy.