Young Muslim Pakistani Women’s Lived Experiences of Izzat, Mental Health and Well-being

TY - JOUR

T1 - Young Muslim Pakistani Women’s Lived Experiences of Izzat, Mental Health and Well-being

AU - Gunasinghe, Cerisse Marie

AU - Hatch, Stephani Louise

AU - Lawrence, Jane

PY - 2018/10/8

Y1 - 2018/10/8

N2 - This article explores how six Pakistani Muslim women interpret cultural concepts of izzat (honour and self-respect), what role, if any, it has in their lives and whether there is interplay between upholding izzat and the participants' help-seeking strategies for mental health and well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed with an Interpretative Phenomenological Analytic framework. Three themes were identified: 1) “The rules of izzat”, 2) “Negotiating tensions” and 3) “Speaking out/breaking the ‘rules’ ”. Findings highlighted new insights into the understanding of izzat and the implications these cultural concepts have for strategies in managing or silencing of psychological distress. Interviews illustrated tensions the participants experience when considering izzat; how these are negotiated to enable them to self-manage or seek help and possible life experiences that might lead to self-harm and attempted suicide. Notably, cultural codes, in particular izzat, appear to vary over the life course and are influenced by migration.

AB - This article explores how six Pakistani Muslim women interpret cultural concepts of izzat (honour and self-respect), what role, if any, it has in their lives and whether there is interplay between upholding izzat and the participants' help-seeking strategies for mental health and well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed with an Interpretative Phenomenological Analytic framework. Three themes were identified: 1) “The rules of izzat”, 2) “Negotiating tensions” and 3) “Speaking out/breaking the ‘rules’ ”. Findings highlighted new insights into the understanding of izzat and the implications these cultural concepts have for strategies in managing or silencing of psychological distress. Interviews illustrated tensions the participants experience when considering izzat; how these are negotiated to enable them to self-manage or seek help and possible life experiences that might lead to self-harm and attempted suicide. Notably, cultural codes, in particular izzat, appear to vary over the life course and are influenced by migration.

KW - CULTURE

KW - MENTAL HEALTH

KW - Well-being

KW - SELF-HARM

KW - SUICIDE

U2 - 10.1177/1049732318803094

DO - 10.1177/1049732318803094

M3 - Article

SN - 1049-7323

JO - Qualitative Health Research

JF - Qualitative Health Research

ER -