The Role of Culture in Parental Perceptions of Medical Mental Health Treatment for Adolescents

Abstract

This paper aims to address the increase in adolescents aged 10-17 suffering from mental health disorders and/or symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety) in the United States after the COVID-19 pandemic, along with many of them going untreated. Upon examination of the existing body of research, many cultures have expressed different views on the use of mental health medication, and that these views are not always understood by psychologists and psychiatrists. Given that the U.S. has a growing culturally diverse population, it is imperative to examine if these sentiments continue to hold true. Using a self-report online survey method, quantitative and qualitative data was gathered from 44 parents from a variety of diverse cultures with adolescents between the ages of 10 and 17. Upon analysis of parents who strongly identified and did not strongly identify with their culture, no statistically significant differences were found in their perceptions of medical mental health treatment and psychologists and psychiatrists’ understandings of various cultural backgrounds. This research demonstrates that how culture is viewed and taken into consideration varies from person to person and should be treated as such. It is suggested that future research with a larger sample size should be studied in order to further examine culture’s influence and other possible factors, and to ensure a more reflective assessment of the U.S. population.