Date of Conferral
5-28-2025
Date of Award
May 2025
Degree
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)
School
Psychology
Advisor
Chet Lesniak
Abstract
Immigrants from Cameroon residing in the United States are at risk of mental and psychological distress; however, very few of these immigrants seek appropriate treatment for their existing mental health conditions. Limited research exists on this population’s experiences of mental health care access in the United States. This qualitative study aimed to improve understanding of the mental health care access experience of immigrants from Cameroon residing in the United States. The theoretical and conceptual frameworks underpinning this research were Douglas’ cultural theory and Andersen’s health services model. The research question for this qualitative descriptive inquiry asked how Cameroon immigrants describe their mental health access experiences within the United States. A purposive sampling strategy was used to recruit nine individuals who met specified inclusion criteria and who were willing to participate in a Zoom video interview. All data collected were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step process for thematic analysis. The key themes that were identified included cultural influences on health perceptions and behaviors, trust and distrust in health care systems, and economic and systemic barriers to access. Through targeted outreach and community building, stakeholders may be able to promote support-seeking processes that align with the social, cultural, and economic needs of Cameroon immigrants. The potential implications for positive social change are the strengthening of diverse cultural perspectives to address mental health care barriers to access for Cameroonian immigrants.
Recommended Citation
Gike, GERALDINE, "The Experience of Mental Health Care Access of Immigrants from Cameroon Residing in the United States" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17881.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17881
