Influence of Culture and Religion on Anxiety Patients: A Qualitative Study in Sabah

Atiqah Chew Abdullah and Salami Mutiu Olagoke and Asrenee Ab Razak and Asma Perveen and Tze, Nicholas and Walton Wider and Diana Nabila Chau Abdullah (2023) Influence of Culture and Religion on Anxiety Patients: A Qualitative Study in Sabah. Journal for Re Attach Therapy and Developmental Diversities, 6. pp. 43-48.

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Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety is a common mental health disorder that significantly impacts the individual and socioeconomic. Sabah has the highest prevalence of mental health disorders among Malaysian states. The people of Sabah are varying in ethnicities with vast cultural beliefs embedded in the society, therefore understanding cultural and religious factors is essential for the implementation of effective approaches to mental health care. Objectives: To explore the influence of cultural and religious practice on the respondents’ anxiety levels. Methods: A total of 15 multiethnic participants residing in Sabah were recruited and interviewed for this study, in which participants were either patients with panic disorder or generalize anxiety disorder. Interpretative phenomenological perspective was employed through learning about the subjective experience and meaning making of the participants interviewed. Primary data obtained from the qualitative study were then thematically analysed using Nvivo software Results: Results showed that religious practices helped anxiety patients cope with their disorder, increase resilience, and give them strength and motivation; while cultural practices did not. Conclusions: Anxiety is chosen as a focus because of its high prevalence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study emphasized the importance of understanding the role of culture and religion in helping the respondents cope with their disorders. The findings of this study could help define more effective ways in raising awareness and encouraging health-promoting behaviour such as treatment-seeking among the community in Sabah.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	Culture, Religion, Anxiety, Panic attack, Mental illness
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV1-9960 Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV697-4959 Protection, assistance and relief > HV697-3024 Special classes > HV1551-3024 People with disabilities: Including blind, deaf, people with physical and mental disabilities R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC31-1245 Internal medicine > RC321-571 Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry > RC346-429 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system Including speech disorders > RC435-571 Psychiatry > RC569.7-571 Mental retardation. Developmental disabilities
Department:	FACULTY > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Depositing User:	SITI AZIZAH BINTI IDRIS -
Date Deposited:	01 Feb 2024 15:40
Last Modified:	01 Feb 2024 15:40
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38100

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