Assessing stigma and misfit to needs as barriers to psychological treatment between religious and non-religious individuals

 Despite positive ties between religious involvement and mental health, there is a well-documented history of mental health stigma within faith communities. The term ‘stigma’ is often used in this context to capture various negative attitudes toward mental health treatment. However, nuance likely exists within this construct, requiring further examination of the specific attitudes that inhibit mental health treatment seeking.

In this study, we examined a sample of 663 participants recruited from the metro-Atlanta area who reported perceived barriers to psychological treatment. We hypothesized that religious individuals would endorse stigma as a barrier to treatment more often than non-theist or non-religious individuals, after controlling for self-reported importance of religion/spirituality. Similarly, we hypothesized that religious individuals would perceive therapy as less fit to address their needs than non-theist or non-religious individuals, after controlling for self-reported importance of religion/spirituality. 

An ANCOVA [between-subjects factor: religious identification (religious, non-religious); covariate: importance of religion] revealed no statistical significance of religious identification or religious importance on stigma as a barrier to treatment, p >.05. However, a second ANCOVA [between-subjects factor: religious identification (religious, non-religious); covariate: importance of religion] revealed that although there was no significant relation between identifying as religious and perception of therapy misfit as a barrier to treatment, F(1, 663) = 1.05, p = .31, n_p² = .002, greater religious importance predicted stronger endorsement of therapy misfit to needs, F(1, 663) = 10.29, p = .001, n_p² = .02. 

Results of this study suggest that misfit to needs may be a greater barrier to therapeutic treatment for more religious individuals than stigma broadly. The two constructs are conceptually similar, but this analysis indicates differences in how they are experienced. It is possible that religious communities may perceive psychological treatment as an unacceptable overindulgence or a failure of religion to fulfill a need, therefore reducing treatment seeking behavior. 

Further research should recruit larger samples with greater representation of major religious groups to improve understanding of the intersectionality of religiosity and mental health attitudes. This could ultimately support tailored strategies for addressing barriers within faith communities.