Differences in Professional and Informal Help Seeking Among Older African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic Whites

Abstract

This study uses a national probability sample of older adults to examine racial and ethnic differences in the use of professional services and informal support for a stressful personal problem. Using data from the National Survey of American Life, this study focuses on African Americans, Black Caribbean immigrants, and Whites aged 55 years and older who experienced a personal problem that caused them significant distress (n=862). Multinomial logistic regression is used to estimate the association of race with the use of professional services only, informal support only, both professional services and informal support, or no help at all, while controlling for demographic and socioeconomic variables, characteristics of the informal support network, the type of problem experienced, and experiences of racial discrimination. Examining the use of professional services and informal support provides a more complete picture of racial and ethnic differences of help-seeking behaviors among older adults, and the factors associated with the sources from which these adults request help. Most respondents use informal support alone or in combination with professional services. Black Caribbeans are more likely than African Americans to rely on informal support only, whereas African Americans are more likely than Whites to not receive help. However, these findings are accounted for by differences in social support and experiences of discrimination.

Discrimination and Help-Seeking: Use of Professional Services and Informal Support Among African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and Non-Hispanic Whites with a Mental Disorder

“…In this and related studies, women were not only more likely to seek help but also were more likely to seek help from a wider range of sources. These results are consistent with findings from previous studies (Neighbors and Jackson 1984;Woodward et al 2008); however, when examining help-seeking for a personal problem, Woodward et al found no significant gender differences in the use of professional services and informal support (Woodward et al 2010). This suggests that men experience help-seeking for a mental disorder differently compared to seeking help for a personal problem.…”

“…This research has suggested that similar to African Americans, black Caribbeans underutilize mental health services ). Further, observed racial differences in informal support networks for black Caribbeans and whites do not always mirror the differences found in comparisons of African Americans with whites Woodward et al 2008;Woodward et al 2010). More research is needed to thoroughly understand how demographic, socioeconomic, social network variables and racial discrimination differentially affect help-seeking actions across these groups.…”

“…In combination with several other efforts (Neighbors and Jackson 1984;Woodward et al 2008Woodward et al , 2010Woodward et al , 2011, this study builds on this body of research to examine the use of professional services and informal support simultaneously. Using data from the National Survey of black Americans, for example, Neighbors and Jackson (1984) found that when faced with a personal problem, roughly equal proportions of African Americans used informal support or a combination of professional services and informal support, whereas much smaller proportions relied on professional services only or did not receive help at all.…”

“…Using data from the National Survey of black Americans, for example, Neighbors and Jackson (1984) found that when faced with a personal problem, roughly equal proportions of African Americans used informal support or a combination of professional services and informal support, whereas much smaller proportions relied on professional services only or did not receive help at all. More recently, Woodward et al (2010) used the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) to examine help-seeking for a personal problem focusing on racial and ethnic differences among African American, black Caribbean, and nonHispanic white older adults. Like Neighbors and Jackson, this study found that most respondents used informal support.…”

Social isolation from extended family members and friends among African Americans: Findings from a national survey

“…Because family and friends are critical sources of referral to professional social services, being socially isolated limits the professional services received by adults who may have physical or mental health problems (Woodward et al, 2008). For instance, research by Woodward et al, (2008, 2010) finds that family and friendship contact are associated with the use of professional and informal help when coping with a mental disorder (Woodward et al, 2008) and a serious personal problem (Woodward et al, 2010)…”