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Emotional and Somatic Distress in Eastern North Carolina: Help-Seeking Behaviors

Department of Psychiatric Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA

Anand Pandurangi, MD

Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Yekeen A. Aderibigbe, MD

Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30310-1495, USA. yaderibigbe{at}msm.edu

Socio-demographic and cultural factors have been reported to shape help-seeking behavior. However, not much effort has been made to determine the effects of these factors on help-seeking among rural populations. A telephone survey using random-digit dialing was used to explore socio-demographic characteristics and ethnic differences in the types of professionals sought for unexplained somatic and emotional problems (N = 1161) in rural eastern North Carolina. Ethnic differences in comfort with participating in support groups were also examined. The effect of a large natural disaster, Hurricane Floyd and subsequent flooding, on help-seeking choices and comfort with support groups was also assessed. Results showed that the rural population makes a sharp distinction between somatic symptoms and stress-related symptoms. This distinction seemed more pronounced for European-Americans than for African-Americans. In general African-Americans selected help-seeking from clergy more often than European-Americans, although for unexplained somatic symptoms this difference was fostered by Hurricane Floyd with its flooding. African-Americans showed markedly increased comfort with support groups after the hurricane, while European-Americans showed no changes in comfort with support groups as a function of the hurricane. The effects of Hurricane Floyd on African-Americans are interpreted as reflecting an increased salience of community support for African-Americans, significantly through the Baptist Church. Training of clergy should include recognition of stress-related somatic and emotional symptoms and the potential for an important referral role, especially following disasters.

Key Words: help-seeking • ethnic • disaster • stress

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 49, No. 2, 126-141 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0020764003049002006


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