“Uno no puede solucionarlo por sí mismo”: Sociocultural Influences on Mental Health and Help-Seeking Attitudes Among Rural Mexican Adults

Abstract

Psychological disorders are prevalent and a pressing issue in Mexico. Mexican populations living in rural settings face exacerbated barriers rooted in long-held perceptions, gender roles, and geography that prevent them from accessing and utilizing support for their mental health. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 16 adults (12 women, 4 men; M_age = 36) living in rural Mexico, this study seeks to examine the ways in which machismo and familismo contribute to attitudes and intentions toward mental health knowledge and help-seeking. Qualitative conventional content analysis revealed seven themes that reflected the multifaceted nature of mental health perceptions. Findings show that Mexican rural adults hold largely positive help-seeking attitudes and intentions, often relying on familial support as an outlet for emotional expression. Moreover, familismo is a particularly salient agent that drives rural Mexican adults to connect with family members and consider utilizing mental health services. In contrast, behaviors and beliefs rooted in machismo norms contributed to stigma and reluctance to seek mental health help. Overall, findings from this study contribute to the scarcity of research with rural Mexicans and illuminates the complex interplay between cultural ideologies and mental health perceptions.