Considering Cultural and Religious Perspectives When Conducting Health Behavior Research with Jordanian Adolescents

Abstract

Lifestyle and self-care behaviors are formed during childhood and adolescence. 1 Providing adolescents with basic health information and skills may reduce future health risks by promoting enhanced self-care practices. This includes opportunities for active engagement in health promotion program planning. Jordanian adolescents may feel uncomfortable discussing personal health Considering Cultural and Religious Perspectives When Conducting Health Behavior Research with Jordanian AdolescentsJordanian adolescents feel uncomfortable discussing personal health practices including drugs, alcohol, tobacco use, and cancer self-examination. Both Islam and Christianity prohibit illicit drug use. Jordanian society considers drinking alcohol to be a violation of religious tenets and social customs. Some adults erroneously believe that avoiding discussion of drug or alcohol use prevents youth from risky behavior.Asking adolescents about their tobacco use practices is difficult as underage smoking is deemed unacceptable behavior. Because smoking is considered physically harmful, it is forbidden in Islam and Christianity.Cultural norms affect discussion about sexual behaviors, human sexuality, and reproductive health concerns. As a consequence, there is limited focus on sexual function, reproductive disorders, contraception, and sexual violence within institutional settings. Both Islam and Christianity encourage people to promote their health through preventive actions. Intervention studies are needed to identify the most effective methods to challenge and dispel misperceptions about the risks of cancers such as breast cancer. Interventions should focus on promoting understanding of cancer screening, and encouraging cancer screening decisions that are consistent with individual preferences and values. Researchers must adapt methods to honor cultural preferences and values. Religion can be used to encourage health-related behaviors. Furthermore, medical education should be a cornerstone for promoting health and adopting healthy behaviors.While their study was conducted in Jordan, cultural barriers to accurate and effective health education and research are universal. Although the exact content of prohibitions about discussing sexual function, drug abuse, and domestic violence vary among different societies, there is inadequate preparation of health professionals to teach preventive medicine despite the fact that self-care is a prominent theme in our Judeo-Christian-Islamic heritage. The dilemma is finding a way to solve the problem of preparing our youth to follow the tenets of their religious/cultural milieu, while also providing them with the tools to keep safe and healthy within the constraints of what can and cannot be spoken.Although this article discusses the problems of health education and research among Jordanian youth, its message is easily translatable to any place and any culture.

Social Differences in Health Behaviours among Jordanian Adolescents

“…In terms of the Jordanian context, the culture has been shaped by Islamic religious and social norms, which encourage people to promote their health through preventive actions and healthy behaviours. Religious beliefs and practices and cultural norms often influence perceived behavioural control, social influence, and discussions about unhealthy behaviours such as smoking [ 32 ]. However, Jordan is facing rapid progress and is growing closer to Western countries, and socioeconomic changes could in turn affect the culture and norms, e.g., eating behaviour norms can be changed by the spread of fast food restaurants in cities [ 8 ].…”

A sex-stratified multiple regression on Jordanian adolescents’ life satisfaction using different elements of school climate

“…Jordanian values and beliefs are shaped by the Islamic religion ( Al-Hassan and Takash, 2011 ) and thus these values, beliefs, and cultural mores can play an important role in the perception of mental health such as depression and life satisfaction ( Dardas and Simmons, 2015 ). In addition, gender may play a more important role in determining these relationships between school climate and well-being, particularly in patriarchal, male-dominated societies in the Middle East ( Wahsheh and Hassan, 2012 ).…”

Risk and protective factors approach to middle and high school students’ health behavior in Jordan

“…It health, such as depression and life satisfaction (Dardas and Simmons, 2015). In addition, gender may play a more important role in determining these relationships between school climate and wellbeing, particularly in the patriarchal, male-dominated societies of the Middle East (Wahsheh et al, 2012).…”