Date of Conferral

8-13-2024

Date of Award

August 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Social Work

Advisor

Jay Contrino

Abstract

Refugee cultural backgrounds are different from the primary culture in which they live. Cultural barriers have been identified as contributing factors to disparities in mental health services among refugees in the host country. They face racism, discrimination, and marginalization that impede their access to mental health services compared to the host populations. The Western model of mental health services was developed for the unique needs of the European refugees and could not always meet the needs of the non-European refugee populations. The lack of culturally specific mental health services creates disparities in mental health services that affect the quality of life (QOL) of non-European refugees in Western countries and the United States. This quantitative study aimed to measure the relationship between cultural barriers to mental health services (CBMHS) and QOL with adaptation coping mechanisms (ACM) as a moderating variable among Congolese refugees (N = 146), an understudied subgroup of the African refugee populations in the United States. Empowerment theory was used as the framework, and data were collected one time using three survey tools. Results of correlation analysis showed a weak positive relationship between CBMHS and QOL but a strong positive correlation between ACM and QOL. Results of moderation analysis using multiple linear regressions were significant, F (2,143) = 92.134, p < .001, R2 = .56, showing both CBMHS and ACM with 56% variance in QOL; however, ACM contributed higher (B = .879, t = 12.670, p < .001) than CBMHS (B = .143, t = 1.834, p < .001). Results may be used for positive social change by incorporating coping strategies into service provision to empower Congolese refugees to manage their mental health needs.

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