title: "I'm not one of them": barriers to help-seeking among American Indians with alcohol dependence.
abstract: The majority of people with alcohol use disorders do not seek formal treatment. Research on barriers to help-seeking have only recently focused on ethnic minority populations. The present study investigated the extent to which an adult American Indian (AI) sample experienced similar and/or unique barriers to help-seeking as have been reported in the literature. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, 56 (54% male) AIs with lifetime alcohol dependence completed a semistructured face-to-face interview and a self-administered written survey. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, and coded for four major themes: personal barriers, pragmatic barriers, concerns about seeking help, and social network barriers. Quantitative data provided percentage endorsing each survey item and strength of each barrier, which were categorized according to the four major themes. In previous research, most barriers questionnaires have not queried for cultural concerns or how the specific type of help may be a mismatch from the client's perspective. Given the rapidly changing racial/ethnic demography in the United States, further research addressing cultural and spiritual concerns as well as more common barriers is indicated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico.
authors.forename: Kamilla L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Venner
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico.
authors.forename: Brenna L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vicuña
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Addiction Substance Abuse Program (ASAP), University of New Mexico.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult