The Link Between Family Mental Health And Cultural Identity
Identity is one factor that has the power to impact a person's mental health significantly. For some, cultural background and beliefs form part of this personal identity. Researchers have confirmed that cultural identities influence mental health. As a result, they suggest that public health policies and mental health professionals can benefit from being culturally sensitive. Those looking to understand cultural sensitivity and family may explore the link between identity and mental wellness and ways to seek treatment from a mental health specialist.
What is cultural identity?
Cultural identity is a social identity, making it part of the identity one derives from being in a group. A person's cultural identity may be formed by the nation they live in or were born in and their language, religion, or family heritage, especially concerning race and ethnicity. A person's cultural identity is often reinforced through time spent with others in the cultural group and the observation of cultural traditions and norms in that group.
Learning about or being immersed in other cultures can challenge or alter a person's cultural identity. For example, people often face cultures different from their own after immigrating to a different country. Similarly, living in a place colonized by people of a different culture may cause a mixture of cultures in one area. Much of the research on cultural identity and mental health focuses on people with a cultural identity that is the minority where they live. Mental health services in this context may be more successful when they consider culture.
What is family mental health?
Often, scientific research on mental health and mental healthcare focuses on the individual. Family mental health refers to the idea that mental health isn't only a phenomenon on the individual level. Families as a unit may have their own varying degrees of mental health. A family's overall mental health can influence the mental health of its members, while the mental health of individual family members also influences the overall well-being of the family as a unit.
Outside the individualistic Western world, other cultures and people may view mental health and well-being as primarily part of a family or community rather than an individual person. For example, researchers noted that some Indigenous Australians do not think of well-being on a personal level. For them, social and emotional well-being cannot be separated from their connections to their immediate family members and broader kinship networks.
Examples of cultural identity impacting mental health
Multiple studies have found instances in which cultural identity impacts individual and family mental health. Below are a few cultures that may have certain specific cultural beliefs about mental health. However, note that people within cultural groups vary, and some people may not share the same beliefs as the majority group in their cultural background.
Indigenous Australians
Research has found that Indigenous Australians often experience mental health challenges due to colonization and racism, often contributing to substance use, incarceration, and family violence. These factors have caused trauma and significantly disrupted family connections. As a result, they've led to a significant increase in mental illness and suicide among Indigenous Australians.
While Indigenous Australians face increased mental health issues, maintaining a strong cultural identity and family connections often has a defensive effect. Being engaged with one's Indigenous community and connected with family can act as mental health support and may prevent suicide. One study found that cultural engagement among Indigenous Australians who had previously been incarcerated reduced their chances of being incarcerated again.
Immigrant youth in Germany
A study on immigrant youth in Germany from various home countries, including Turkey, Poland, Yugoslavia, and the former Soviet Union, found that having a strong cultural identity with their home country's culture was associated with higher self-esteem. Strongly identifying with either their home country's culture or German culture was associated with higher life satisfaction and a stronger attachment to school.
Asian and Latino youth in the US
A three-year study of youth in the US found that having a stronger connection with one’s Asian identity was linked to fewer distressing physical symptoms among Asian youth. Similar results were found for communities of Latino youth in the US. Physical symptoms often relate to mental health. For example, fatigue and physical aches and pains are often symptoms of depression. Similarly, nausea, muscle tension, diarrhea, and increased blood pressure can be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Adolescents in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a specific region of China with a history and culture different from mainland China. One study examined cultural identity and mental health among adolescents in Hong Kong. Some youth were from Hong Kong, and others were from mainland China.
Having a "confused" identity — not clearly identifying with either Hong Kong or mainland Chinese culture — was linked to lower self-esteem, reduced happiness, and lower mental well-being. Having a clear cultural identity with either Hong Kong or Mainland China was associated with higher self-esteem, happiness, and well-being compared to having a confused identity, suggesting that a confident sense of cultural identity provides mental health benefits.
Syrian refugees in Turkey
A study of Syrian refugees in Turkey found that those who had multiple cultural group identities prior to migrating were more likely to maintain cultural identity and group memberships after migrating. Those who maintained their cultural identity and group memberships were more satisfied with life and experienced less depression.
Indigenous Māori youth in New Zealand
A study of Indigenous Māori youth in New Zealand found that having a strong cultural identity with the Indigenous Māori culture was linked to better well-being and less depression. Having experienced discrimination for being Indigenous was linked to worse mental health and an increased risk of suicide attempts. The study authors posit that cultural identity can have a defensive effect on mental health but that experiencing ethnic discrimination can confound this effect.
Support options
If a person is struggling with their cultural identity or any type of identity, therapy with a mental health professional is one option to help them figure out their personal identity. However, some people may face barriers to receiving in-person treatment, such as financial challenges or a lack of ability to travel to appointments. In these cases, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be more available.
Remote therapy allows clients to work through identity-related issues from the comfort of their home or any location with internet. In addition, online therapy allows clients to choose a session time that works for them, including outside of standard business hours. On some platforms, clients can decide whether they’d prefer to work with an LGBTQ+ or BIPOC therapist.
Researchers appear not to have yet specifically studied the role of remote therapy on cultural identity and mental health. However, research shows that cultural identity is often significant to immigrants. A systematic review of 15 studies found that therapy can improve depression in Latino immigrants in the US. Therapy is thought to be even more helpful when the therapist is culturally sensitive and can adapt the therapy to a client's culture.
Takeaway
Cultural identity refers to the identity a person derives from being a member of a group, whether a nation, religion, or ethnic group. Some studies have found that cultural identity can have a defensive effect against mental health symptoms. When an individual's mental health is improved, it may positively impact the mental health of their entire family. Therapy with a culturally sensitive therapist is one way to reduce mental health symptoms and explore one's cultural identity. Consider contacting a therapist online or in your area to build a support plan tailored to you.
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