An Exploratory Study of American Muslim Conceptions of Mental Illness

Abstract

Theological expressions on physical and mental illness tend to be influential in shaping the beliefs of practitioners living in Muslim majority societies.. It is unknown what influence, if any, Islamic beliefs have on the conceptions of mental illness expressed by Muslim Americans. This study explores the conceptions of Muslim Americans regarding mental illness. Two hundred and fifty-five individuals identifying as Muslim American participated in a mixed-method anonymous survey. The results of the survey reveal that most Muslim American participants adhere primarily to the dominant Western biomedical model of mental illness, but open-ended responses reflect a more complex understanding of mental illness as having biological, environmental, and psycho-spiritual origins. Findings suggest that how a Muslim American interprets mental illness will most likely depend upon the symptoms and context of the illness. Further exploration is needed to understand the beliefs of Muslim Americans and the way in which these beliefs affect attitudes toward therapies and mental health services.