Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences
Volume 27, Issue 3, 1990, Pages 131-144

Mental health attitudes and practices of Soviet immigrants (Article)

Levav I. , Kohn R. , Flaherty J.A. , Lerner Y. , Aisenberg E.
  • a World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • b World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • c World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • d World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States
  • e World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States

Abstract

A survey of mental health knowledge, attitudes and help-seeking practices was conducted with 415 Soviet immigrants to Israel. The purpose of the study was twofold: to provide data for mental health services and outreach programs designed for this immigrant group and to obtain a 'proxy window' into these attitudes and behaviors in the Sovjet Union itself. The results show that almost 20% of the immigrants reported consultation to formal agents in Israel and about half of these reported similar consultation in the USSR. An almost equal proportion consulted the family. Univariate and multivariate analysis show that demoralization, marital status, and religiosity were significantly associated with help-seeking. The second part of the survey explored Soviet immigrant attitudes to mental illness and the mentally ill by means of case vignettes and social situations, respectively. The respondents were able to detect abnormal behavior, but did not label it as psychopathology. Their overall tolerance of such behavior was low. These attitudes did not change over time nor seem to be influenced by reported abuses of psychiatry in the USSR.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Israel mental health human comparative study USSR religion Mental Disorders marriage Cross-Cultural Comparison consultation male female Jews Article major clinical study Support, Non-U.S. Gov't adult migration ethnic or racial aspects Emigration and Immigration attitude to health Middle Age
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0025049359&partnerID=40&md5=1b6592ed48c63817444a8d9d60ebc8f2
ISSN: 03337308
Cited by: 46
Original Language: English