The robustness of the gender effect on help seeking for mental health needs in three subcultures in Israel.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the extent to which gender differences in use of services in three subcultures in Israel can be accounted for by the psychosocial differences between women and men, and by differences in the prevalence of common psychiatric disorders and levels of distress.


METHODS
A representative sample extracted from the National Population Register of non-institutionalized residents aged 21 or older of Israel was used in this cross-sectional survey. Data on health, use of services and socio demographic background were collected using face-to-face computer-assisted interviews. DSM-IV disorders were assessed using the WMH-CIDI.


RESULTS
Gender effects in the three different subcultures remained significant in predicting the use of services for mental health purposes after adjustment for educational level, family status, chronic illness, experience of violence, presence of mental disorder and psychological distress.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher rates of help seeking in women could not be explained by psychosocial differences and are likely related to women's greater readiness to articulate and communicate distress.
Levinson
Daphna
D
Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. Daphna.Levinson@moh.health.gov.il
Ifrah
Anneke
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D014586:USSR / Q000208:ethnology