title: Intergenerational and cross-cultural differences in emotional wellbeing, mental health service utilisation, treatment-seeking preferences and acceptability of psychological treatments for Arab Australians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the intergenerational and cross-cultural differences in emotional wellbeing and acceptability of psychological treatments for Arab Australians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To contribute to the emerging data about the mental health status and needs of Arab Australians.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Internet survey examined psychological distress and functional impairment as measured by the Kessler 10 Item scale (K-10) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) among Arab Australians. Additional questions enquired about their help-seeking behaviours, barriers to accessing psychological treatments and preferences for delivery of psychological treatments. A total of 252 participants were recruited through public talks, media and online promotions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three percent of the respondents reported moderate-to-severe functional impairment (M = 9.5; standard deviation (SD) = 1.8), 32% reported high psychological distress (M = 28.5; SD = 5.4) and 30% were born overseas. First-generation Arab Australians experiencing high psychological distress (i.e. K-10 ≥ 22), reported a greater preference for Internet-delivered treatment when compared to their second-generation counterparts. Only 18% of the sample reported seeking help from a mental health professional in the past year. The significant barriers reported by respondents with high psychological distress were poor mental health literacy, lack of time and stigma. Respondents preferred face-to-face (90%) over Internet-delivered treatment (55%). Finally, Arab Australians experienced higher psychological distress and underutilised mental health services when compared to the Australian population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeted public health campaigns that make culturally relevant interventions such as modifying existing Internet-delivered treatment for Arab Australians may reduce barriers and increase treatment options for this population.
authors.affiliation: eCentreClinic, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia rony.kayrouz@students.mq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kayrouz
authors.affiliation: eCentreClinic, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Blake F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Dear
authors.affiliation: eCentreClinic, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Quest for Excellence, Menai, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keyrouz
authors.affiliation: Quest for Excellence, Menai, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nehme
authors.affiliation: Transcultural Mental Health Centre, Parramatta, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laube
authors.affiliation: eCentreClinic, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Nickolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Titov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018912:Arabs; D001315:Australia / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D057545:Social Stigma; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arab Australians; Internet-delivered treatments; barriers; cross-cultural; help-seeking preferences; intergenerational; mental health service utilisation; psychological distress