Depression among Muslims in the United States: Examining the Role of Discrimination and Spirituality as Risk and Protective Factors.

Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 2984852R Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0037-8046 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00378046 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Soc Work Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2012-> : Cary, NC : Oxford University Press
Original Publication: New York : National Association of Social Workers

Prejudice* ; Spirituality*; Depression/*epidemiology ; Islam/*psychology; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; United States/epidemiology

Depression is a widespread challenge that affects people in all cultures. Yet, despite the growth of the Muslim population in the United States, little research has been conducted on this topic with members of this cultural group. To address this gap in the literature, the present study examines the effect of discrimination and spirituality on depression with a sample of self-identified Muslims (N = 269). Consistent with our expectations, discrimination was a risk factor and spirituality was a protective factor. For instance, Muslims who reported being called offensive names were more likely (odds ratio [OR] = 3.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.82, 6.32) to report clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms compared with those who were not called offensive names, whereas saying daily prayers was associated with a lower likelihood of reporting elevated levels of symptoms (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.55, 0.97). The article concludes with a discussion of the implication of the results as they intersect social work practice and of avenues for future research.

Date Created: 20160223 Date Completed: 20160408 Latest Revision: 20191027

20231215

10.1093/sw/swv055

26897998