Faith-Based Mental Health Interventions With African Americans: A Review. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hays, Krystal; Aranda, Maria P.
• Is Part Of: Research on social work practice. Volume 26:Number 7(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 777
• Page End: 789
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: mental health -- religion -- faith based -- interventions -- African Americans; Social service -- Periodicals; 361.3205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049731515569356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7315

Abstract

Faith-based interventions have emerged culturally sensitive way to address mental health issues among African Americans. This systematic review explores the scope and efficacy of faith-based mental health intervention outcomes among African Americans. Extracted data included the study population, setting, study design, intervention, adaptations, outcome measures, data analysis, and results. Methodological quality and sociocultural adaptations were also examined. The literature search identified 627 articles from 9 targeted databases. Five studies met inclusion criteria for this review. All five studies reported improvement in mental health outcomes and most studies sought to increase knowledge of mental health issues. Intervention settings, outcomes of interest, age groups, and attention to sociocultural modifications varied greatly. This review highlights a gap in the literature regarding African Americans and faith-based interventions. We discuss the potential for collaboration between social work professionals and clergy and the need to make faith-based interventions more accessible.