Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia
Abstract Background A lack of understanding about the needs of people in Middle Eastern and Islamic contexts living with mental health disorders, and their experiences of diagnosis-related social and personal stigma inhibits high-quality care. Methods This qualitative descriptive study, based in Sau...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02733-w |
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| author | Loujain Sharif Rawan Babhair Diana Alzahrani Alanoud Abuladel Amani Kabli Raghad Alzahrani Lujain Alghamdi Alaa Mahsoon Khalid Sharif Ruba Alharazi Rebecca Wright |
| author_facet | Loujain Sharif Rawan Babhair Diana Alzahrani Alanoud Abuladel Amani Kabli Raghad Alzahrani Lujain Alghamdi Alaa Mahsoon Khalid Sharif Ruba Alharazi Rebecca Wright |
| author_sort | Loujain Sharif |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A lack of understanding about the needs of people in Middle Eastern and Islamic contexts living with mental health disorders, and their experiences of diagnosis-related social and personal stigma inhibits high-quality care. Methods This qualitative descriptive study, based in Saudi Arabia, used the Stigma Mitigating Conceptual Model to explore mental disorder-related stigma from the perspective of challenges and strategies connected to knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Thirteen adults with mental health disorders completed semi-structured interviews, analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Four major themes and nine subthemes pertaining to the impact of stigma on public and self/personal knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were identified: (1) effects of the mental disorder on everyday life, (2) challenges, (3) overcoming the challenges, and (4) types of stigma experienced. Greater knowledge of mental health disorders promoted Islamic principles of compassion and support, while the absence of knowledge exacerbated public stigma and fears the individual is under the influence of the ‘Evil Eye’, or lacks prayers and devotion. Participant strategies to mitigate stigma include education, and more opportunities for those living with mental health disorders to share their stories. Conclusions Study findings provide nuance into the role of stigma in the context of cultural and religious factors in Saudi. These insights can be used to help tailor care and interventions to people from Middle Eastern contexts, as Western perspectives have predominantly driven mental health care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-57f1c58eab824b7db732c63e3ccf8b80 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-57f1c58eab824b7db732c63e3ccf8b802025-08-20T02:30:19ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-04-0113111610.1186/s40359-025-02733-wUnraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi ArabiaLoujain Sharif0Rawan Babhair1Diana Alzahrani2Alanoud Abuladel3Amani Kabli4Raghad Alzahrani5Lujain Alghamdi6Alaa Mahsoon7Khalid Sharif8Ruba Alharazi9Rebecca Wright10Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz UniversityAlsalamah Hospital, Almurjan Medical CenterKing Fahad Armed Forces HospitalKing Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterKing Fahad Armed Forces HospitalKing Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CenterKing Fahad Armed Forces HospitalPsychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, West Virginia UniversityMedical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz UniversityJohns Hopkins University School of NursingAbstract Background A lack of understanding about the needs of people in Middle Eastern and Islamic contexts living with mental health disorders, and their experiences of diagnosis-related social and personal stigma inhibits high-quality care. Methods This qualitative descriptive study, based in Saudi Arabia, used the Stigma Mitigating Conceptual Model to explore mental disorder-related stigma from the perspective of challenges and strategies connected to knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Thirteen adults with mental health disorders completed semi-structured interviews, analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Four major themes and nine subthemes pertaining to the impact of stigma on public and self/personal knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were identified: (1) effects of the mental disorder on everyday life, (2) challenges, (3) overcoming the challenges, and (4) types of stigma experienced. Greater knowledge of mental health disorders promoted Islamic principles of compassion and support, while the absence of knowledge exacerbated public stigma and fears the individual is under the influence of the ‘Evil Eye’, or lacks prayers and devotion. Participant strategies to mitigate stigma include education, and more opportunities for those living with mental health disorders to share their stories. Conclusions Study findings provide nuance into the role of stigma in the context of cultural and religious factors in Saudi. These insights can be used to help tailor care and interventions to people from Middle Eastern contexts, as Western perspectives have predominantly driven mental health care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02733-wSocial stigmaSelf-stigmaMental disordersSaudi ArabiaQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Loujain Sharif Rawan Babhair Diana Alzahrani Alanoud Abuladel Amani Kabli Raghad Alzahrani Lujain Alghamdi Alaa Mahsoon Khalid Sharif Ruba Alharazi Rebecca Wright Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia BMC Psychology Social stigma Self-stigma Mental disorders Saudi Arabia Qualitative research |
| title | Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | unraveling the stigma a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture religion and mental disorders in saudi arabia |
| topic | Social stigma Self-stigma Mental disorders Saudi Arabia Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02733-w |
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