Integrative model that examines the influence of culture on personal perceptions: the case of mental help-seeking intentions in faith-based communities

This study proposes a model that maps the cultural and perceptual factors which influence the intention to seek professional mental help, based on an integration between the theory of planned behavior and the theory of basic values. The study presents an application of the model to two major cultural-ethnic and faith-based communities in Israel. The research findings validate the research model and show that cultural values affect perceptions regarding intentions to seek mental help. The model’s significance and its expression in cultural-ethnic and faith-based communities are discussed in relation to cultural and theoretical contexts. The implications for the social work profession are also discussed.