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Depression: The role of cultural factors and perception of treatment

Posted on:2010-05-28Degree:M.AType:Thesis
University:San Jose State UniversityCandidate:Chacon, CynthiaFull Text:PDF
GTID:2444390002972688Subject:Clinical Psychology
Abstract/Summary:
Depression is a prevalent mental disorder. Various factors influence people's attitudes toward help seeking, perceptions, and beliefs about psychotherapy, including ethnicity (language), distress level, social support, treatment modality, and subpopulation. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy (PT) have been used to treat depression. This study explored the relationship between the aforementioned variables. Participants (N = 264) were White and Mexican-American from a college and the community. Results indicated that ethnicity and subpopulation were not significantly related to seeking help; people who reported higher distress levels and higher social support expressed greater likelihood to seek help. All groups rated CBT higher than PT. Mexican-Americans rated therapy more positively than Whites regardless of modality. There was a positive relationship between ethnicity and treatment choice.
Keywords/Search Tags:Depression, Factors
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