Mental Health and Addiction Clinic, Nordland Hospital Trust, Bodø, Norway.
Mental Health and Addiction Clinic, Finnmark Hospital Trust, Alta, Norway.
Int J Circumpolar Health. 2023 Dec;82(1):2223422. doi: 10.1080/22423982.2023.2223422.
The Indigenous Sámi have poorer mental health than the majority population and fairly equal access to professional mental healthcare. Despite this condition, certain studies indicate that this group is underrepresented among the users of such services. Religion or spirituality (R/S) often influences mental health-service utilisation and satisfaction among other Indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities. Thus, this study examines the situation in Sámi-Norwegian areas. We utilised cross-sectional data from the population-based SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey (2012; subsample = 2,364; 71% non-Sámi) in mixed Sámi-Norwegian regions of Northern and Central Norway. We analysed the associations between R/S factors and past-year mental health-service utilisation and satisfaction among individuals reporting mental health problems, substance use, or addictive behaviours. Multivariable-adjusted regression models considering sociodemographic factors, including Sámi ethnicity, were applied. Religious attendance was significantly associated with infrequent past-year use of mental health services (OR = 0.77) and fewer mental health problems, indicating that the R/S fellowship may buffer mental distress and represent an alternative psychological support to professional services. R/S was not significantly associated with lifetime mental health-service satisfaction. We found no ethnic differences in service utilisation or satisfaction.
土著萨米人的心理健康状况不如多数人群，获得专业心理健康保健的机会也相当平等。尽管存在这种情况，但某些研究表明，该群体在这些服务的使用者中代表性不足。宗教或精神信仰（R/S）通常会影响其他土著民族和少数民族的心理健康服务利用和满意度。因此，本研究考察了萨米-挪威地区的情况。我们利用了基于人群的 SAMINOR 2 问卷调查（2012 年；样本量为 2364 人；71%非萨米人）的横断面数据，该调查在挪威北部和中部的混合萨米-挪威地区进行。我们分析了在报告心理健康问题、物质使用或成瘾行为的个体中，R/S 因素与过去一年心理健康服务利用和满意度之间的关联。考虑到包括萨米族裔在内的社会人口因素的多变量调整回归模型被应用。宗教出席与过去一年心理健康服务利用不频繁（OR=0.77）和较少的心理健康问题显著相关，表明宗教团契可能缓冲精神困扰，并代表对专业服务的替代心理支持。R/S 与心理健康服务的终身满意度无显著关联。我们没有发现服务利用或满意度方面的种族差异。
