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'Whose pain is real pain and whose pain is not': an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the role of social support in help-seeking for perinatal mental illnesses in women from minoritised ethnicities.

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Title: 'Whose pain is real pain and whose pain is not': an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the role of social support in help-seeking for perinatal mental illnesses in women from minoritised ethnicities.
Authors: Sandhu, Avneet, Aquino, Maria Raisa Jessica, Tang, Mei Yee
Source: Ethnicity & Health. Apr2025, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p413-431. 19p.
Subjects: Ethnic groups, Empathy, Support groups, Maternal health services, Mental health, Qualitative research, Mental illness, Interviewing, Culture, Affinity groups, Help-seeking behavior, Psychology of women, Social integration, Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Social networks, Business networks, Social support, Minorities, Phenomenology, Self-perception, Psychosocial factors
Geographic Terms: England
Abstract: Rationale and Objectives: Perinatal mental illnesses (PMIs), such as depression and anxiety, affect 25% of mothers in England and occur during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum. PMIs have serious consequences for mothers, children, and families, additionally impacting minoritised ethnic women who experience higher mental health risks and diminished quality of life, stemming from systemic inequalities, socio-economic disadvantages, and limited access to quality care. Social support influences women's help-seeking intentions and behaviours for PMIs, yet its role remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate minoritised ethnic women's experiences of PMIs to understand the role of social support in help-seeking intentions or behaviour for formal or informal support. Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with minoritised ethnic women (n = 6) in England. The interviews explored their experiences of PMIs, mental health, and views on social support during the perinatal period. The data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Minoritised ethnic women held varied perspectives on what constituted social support, ranging from immediate social circles to broader professional networks. Social support was not the sole determinant of help-seeking behaviours; self-perceptions, cultural background, and prior experiences with maternity care were also crucial. Additionally, a need for non-intrusive, empathetic, and culturally sensitive perinatal mental health support for minoritised ethnic women was expressed. The women emphasised the importance of creating safe spaces for open discussions, expressing a desire for peer support to foster a sense of belonging amongst minoritised ethnic women. Conclusion: The role of social support in help-seeking for minoritised ethnic women is complex; functioning as both a facilitator and a barrier to help-seeking, contingent upon individual circumstances and subjective perceptions. The dissatisfaction expressed by women around the current perinatal care highlights the need for services in England to prioritise cultural humility and empathetic support to enhance outcomes for minoritised ethnic women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ethnicity & Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: 'Whose pain is real pain and whose pain is not': an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the role of social support in help-seeking for perinatal mental illnesses in women from minoritised ethnicities.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sandhu%2C+Avneet%22">Sandhu, Avneet</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aquino%2C+Maria+Raisa+Jessica%22">Aquino, Maria Raisa Jessica</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tang%2C+Mei+Yee%22">Tang, Mei Yee</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ethnicity+%26+Health%22">Ethnicity & Health</searchLink>. Apr2025, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p413-431. 19p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethnic+groups%22">Ethnic groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empathy%22">Empathy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Support+groups%22">Support groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maternal+health+services%22">Maternal health services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+illness%22">Mental illness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Culture%22">Culture</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Affinity+groups%22">Affinity groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Help-seeking+behavior%22">Help-seeking behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+women%22">Psychology of women</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+integration%22">Social integration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+networks%22">Social networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+networks%22">Business networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minorities%22">Minorities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phenomenology%22">Phenomenology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-perception%22">Self-perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychosocial+factors%22">Psychosocial factors</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22England%22">England</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Rationale and Objectives: Perinatal mental illnesses (PMIs), such as depression and anxiety, affect 25% of mothers in England and occur during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum. PMIs have serious consequences for mothers, children, and families, additionally impacting minoritised ethnic women who experience higher mental health risks and diminished quality of life, stemming from systemic inequalities, socio-economic disadvantages, and limited access to quality care. Social support influences women's help-seeking intentions and behaviours for PMIs, yet its role remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate minoritised ethnic women's experiences of PMIs to understand the role of social support in help-seeking intentions or behaviour for formal or informal support. Design: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with minoritised ethnic women (n = 6) in England. The interviews explored their experiences of PMIs, mental health, and views on social support during the perinatal period. The data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Minoritised ethnic women held varied perspectives on what constituted social support, ranging from immediate social circles to broader professional networks. Social support was not the sole determinant of help-seeking behaviours; self-perceptions, cultural background, and prior experiences with maternity care were also crucial. Additionally, a need for non-intrusive, empathetic, and culturally sensitive perinatal mental health support for minoritised ethnic women was expressed. The women emphasised the importance of creating safe spaces for open discussions, expressing a desire for peer support to foster a sense of belonging amongst minoritised ethnic women. Conclusion: The role of social support in help-seeking for minoritised ethnic women is complex; functioning as both a facilitator and a barrier to help-seeking, contingent upon individual circumstances and subjective perceptions. The dissatisfaction expressed by women around the current perinatal care highlights the need for services in England to prioritise cultural humility and empathetic support to enhance outcomes for minoritised ethnic women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Ethnicity & Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/13557858.2024.2442332
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 413
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Ethnic groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Empathy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Support groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maternal health services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental illness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Culture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Affinity groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Help-seeking behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of women
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social integration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: Social networks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Business networks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minorities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phenomenology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-perception
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: England
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'Whose pain is real pain and whose pain is not': an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the role of social support in help-seeking for perinatal mental illnesses in women from minoritised ethnicities.
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              M: 04
              Text: Apr2025
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              Y: 2025
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