Mind the Generational Gap? Exploration of the Expression of Mental Wellbeing / Distress and Help seeking Behaviours by Mothers and their daughters of East African Descent in UK: a Mixed Methods Study.

Abstract

Mind the Generational Gap? Exploration of the Expression of Mental Wellbeing / Distress and Help seeking Behaviours by Mothers and their daughters of East African Descent in UK: a Mixed Methods Study. ABSTRACT Introduction: This study explores the expression of mental wellbeing and help seeking for mother -daughter dyads of East African descent in UK using systemic theory and enquiry. The researcher interviewed women who are UK residents, and they, or their families came from the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There are cultural similarities in these countries such as Swahili, a Bantu language that is spoken as a first and national language by many people from these countries (Wilson, 1985; Ally & Brennan, 2015). Similarly, religious / spiritual beliefs and the use of traditional healers are themes that are shared by many people from these countries. Some studies have indicated that women from minority ethnic backgrounds who tend to seek medical help in a crisis have poorer outcomes than their European counterparts. Some of the elucidated explanations for hospital crisis presentations and poorer health outcomes include racism (real or perceived), a lack of trust in the Western (Eurocentric) medical models and conceptualisations, lack of awareness and cultural incongruence among others. Method: The research was undertaken using mixed methods. A Department of Health (DoH) questionnaire regarding attitudes to mental illness was administered to 50 participants. Two focus groups, each comprising of 7 participants, with mothers living in North London and Essex were conducted. Their adult daughters participated in two focus groups that were organised on separate occasions from those of their mothers. Three mother-daughter dyads who had participated in the focus groups were interviewed after the focus groups had been conducted. The focus groups and mother-daughter dyad interviews used semi structured interviews which were audio taped, coded, and transcribed. Data generated from the focus groups and interviews were analysed using thematic narrative analysis. The survey data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings: Three overarching topics were identified. These were: expression of mental distress / wellbeing, emotional health / distress and help seeking behaviours. Through these topics, themes, and sub-themes, were variously recognised. The findings indicated that there were some differences in how these mothers and their daughters conceptualise, communicate, and seek help for their distress. Both qualitative and quantitative findings indicated on the other hand, that these mothers and their daughters had some similarities regarding their conceptualisation of causes of emotional / mental ill health, distress, or wellbeing. The mothers in this study seemed to differ from their daughters in terms of how they would readily seek help from professionals. Conclusion: Co-constructing systems that are meaningful to individuals and families as well as their communities can help to bridge the generational gaps, reduce familial conflicts, and mitigate disparities in help seeking and access to timely healthcare service provisions. Keywords: Mother-daughter dyads; Emotional wellbeing; Focus groups; Thematic Narrative analysis; East Africa; Systemic thinking / theory; Spirituality; African Traditional Religion (ATR), BAME.