2 - (SYM 58) A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Examine the State of Muslim Mental Health Literature and Predictors of Help-seeking in Muslims Residing in North America

Abstract Body

Background: The number of studies examining Muslim mental health in North America has increased in recent years. This is especially needed considering rising Islamophobia, low psychotherapy utilization among this group, and abundance of unrecognized grey literature (i.e., unpublished data). This study combines a systematic review and meta-analysis to both examine the state of the literature in Muslim mental health in North America and statistically evaluate factors related to professional psychological help-seeking in this population.

Method: Our systematic review used multiple search terms in three databases up to December 2021: PsychInfo, Medline, and Proquest Dissertations & Theses Global. Each study was examined for inclusion into an overall database on Muslim mental health as well as inclusion for a meta-analysis on predictors of help-seeking.
Result: Over 19,000 articles were examined, and over 1,000 were included into an overall database. A large proportion of data involves acquiring new qualitative and quantitative data (65%) but there are few analytic studies. Fifteen articles quantitatively examined predictors of help-seeking attitudes. Using random effects modeling, findings from these studies showed that greater levels of self-stigma (r = -.505, CI: -.638 to -.342; z = -5.49, p < .001), lower levels of knowledge/familiarity (r = .191, CI: .003 to .365; z = 1.99, p = .046), and greater endorsement of cultural beliefs about mental illness (r = -.264, CI: -.076 to -.434; z = -2.72, p = .007) were related to negative help-seeking attitudes. Religiosity was not related to help-seeking attitudes, r = -.033; z = -0.43, p = .670.

Discussion: This study emphasizes the importance of reducing stigma, increasing knowledge of psychotherapy, and highlighting potential avenues for treatment that are culturally informed to better serve Muslims in North America. Psychoeducation in the community may be one avenue to improve help-seeking in this group. Further, this study emphasizes the need for adapted measurement and longitudinal data to better understand the links between these findings.