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Cited by 131Cultural Competency in Health CareMigration, Identity, and HealthIndigenous Health, Education, and Rights

Cultural Determinants of Help Seeking: a model for research and practice

Open access
Arnault, Denise Saint·2009·Research and theory for nursing practice
DOI 10.1891/1541-6577.23.4.259PMC PMC2796597
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Abstract

Increasing access to and use of health promotion strategies and health care services for diverse cultural groups is a national priority. While theories about the structural determinants of help seeking have received empirical testing, studies about cultural determinants have been primarily descriptive, making theoretical and empirical analysis difficult. This article synthesizes concepts and research by the author and others from diverse disciplines to develop the midrange theoretical model called the Cultural Determinants of Help Seeking (CDHS). The multidimensional construct of culture, which defines the iterative dimensions of ideology, political economy, practice, and the body, is outlined. The notion of cultural models of wellness and illness as cognitive guides for perception, emotion and behavior as well as the synthesized concept of idioms of wellness and distress are introduced. Next, the CDHS theory proposes that sign and symptom perception, the interpretation of their meaning, and the dynamics of the social distribution of resources are all shaped by cultural models. Then the CDHS model is applied to practice using research with Asians. Finally, implications for research and practice are discussed.

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  • Traditional beliefs and stigma surrounding mental health can hinder perinatal women's willingness to seek help.

    “Traditional beliefs and stigma surrounding mental health can hinder perinatal women's willingness to seek help, while a fragile healthcare system limits access to mental health and maternal services (Arnault, 2009).”

    From Developing and validating the Sierra Leone perinatal psychological distress scale through an emic-etic approach (2025) · cites this paper as Arnault, 2009

    The 'Social significance' and 'Social Evaluation as Shameful' sections describe how culturally shaped shame and negative beliefs about mental illness can discourage disclosure and help seeking. They do not establish this specifically for perinatal women, and the cited passages do not support the sentence's claim that a fragile healthcare system limits access to mental health and maternal services. Page numbers were not provided. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • A fragile healthcare system limits access to mental health and maternal services.

    “Traditional beliefs and stigma surrounding mental health can hinder perinatal women's willingness to seek help, while a fragile healthcare system limits access to mental health and maternal services (Arnault, 2009).”

    From Developing and validating the Sierra Leone perinatal psychological distress scale through an emic-etic approach (2025) · cites this paper as Arnault, 2009

    The Implications for Research and Practice section discusses cultural and interpersonal obstacles to mental-health service use, not a fragile healthcare system. Searches for healthcare-system fragility and maternal or perinatal services found no passage addressing the attributed claim; page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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Research works printed but not linked: 17

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  12. Lee DY 2002 The influence of acculturation and racial identity upon Asian Americans' attitudes toward seeking psychological help Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences & Engineering 63 5B 2591
  13. Lindenbaum S Lock M 1993 Knowledge, power, and practice: the anthropology of medicine and everyday life Berkeley University of California Press
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  17. Schwartz PY 1998 Depressive symptomatology and somatic complaints in the acculturation of Chinese immigrants Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences & Engineering 59 5B 2434

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Authors
Arnault, D. S.
Affiliations
Michigan State University (US)
Corresponding author
Arnault, Denise Saint
ORCID
Arnault, Denise Saint
Venue
Research and theory for nursing practice
Publisher
Springer Publishing Company
Published
2009-11
Volume
23
Issue
4
Pages
259-278
ISSN
  • 0889-7182 (ISSN-L)
  • 1541-6577
  • 1945-7286
DOI
10.1891/1541-6577.23.4.259
PMC
PMC2796597
OpenAlex
W1980818956
Cited by
131
References
98
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
FWCI
10.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Research and theory for nursing practice (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH071307, MH071307)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Cultural Competency in Health Care
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Migration, Identity, and Health
  • Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
Keywords
help-seeking, cultural factors, health promotion, Asian Americans, health care access, cultural diversity
MeSH terms
Cultural Characteristics, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Patient Acceptance of Health Care

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