{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:00:11Z","timestamp":1790312411383,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":66,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790294400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Mental health remains highly stigmatized across many cultural and religious contexts, including Muslim communities in South Africa (SA), where Muslim mental health is under-researched. With Islam being one of the fastest-growing religions globally, alongside increasing global stressors affecting Muslim populations, there has been a rise in demand for mental healthcare. Recent literature highlights the importance of culturally relevant care, particularly through understanding Muslims\u2019 explanatory models of mental health conditions to ensure responsive and appropriate services. However, existing studies in SA remain limited and dated.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study explored the explanatory models of mental health conditions among Muslim psychological service users and members of the general Muslim public. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with service users, and focus group discussions were held with public participants. A total of 39 participants (21 service users and 18 public members) were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Findings highlight diverse explanatory models encompassing beliefs, attitudes, causal explanations, perceptions of severity, and treatment preferences. Mental health was understood through an integrated framework of Islamic teachings, cultural norms, and societal expectations. Faith-based coping strategies, such as prayer, trust in Allah, and religious practices, were widely endorsed. However, stigma remained prominent, with mental health struggles often described as \u201cnot spoken about.\u201d This silence was linked to fear of social judgement, misconceptions, and limited mental health literacy.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Findings demonstrated the multifactorial, complex nature of explanatory models and the influence of broader contextual factors on them. These models are continually negotiated in experiences of psychological distress. Experiences of isolation and delayed help-seeking were emphasised in the community, demonstrating that explanatory models influences help-seeking behavior.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1910057","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T04:27:57Z","timestamp":1790310477000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Between culture and religion: explanatory models of mental health conditions amongst Muslims in Cape Town, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Mariam","family":"Salie","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University","place":["Stellenbosch, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ashraf","family":"Kagee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University","place":["Stellenbosch, South Africa"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","first-page":"268","article-title":"Understanding the principles of Islamic world-view","volume":"6","author":"Abdullah","year":"2011","journal-title":"Dialogue (Pakistan)"},{"key":"ref2","year":""},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e044865","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-044865","article-title":"Understanding the beliefs and attitudes towards mental health problems held by Muslim communities and acceptability of cognitive behavioural therapy as a treatment: systematic review and thematic synthesis protocol","volume":"11","author":"Alharbi","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref5","first-page":"575","article-title":"The role of Islamic values in promoting social justice and community welfare","volume":"5","author":"Ali","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. Res. J. Manag. Soc. Sci."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1007\/s40737-025-00466-y","article-title":"Culturally shaped explanatory models of psychological and psychiatric distress in family caregivers and their impact on help-seeking behavior: a cross-sectional study from Oman","volume":"12","author":"Al-Maamari","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1080\/19349637.2023.2224778","article-title":"The impact of religio-cultural beliefs and superstitions in shaping the understanding of mental disorders and mental health treatment among Arab Muslims","volume":"26","author":"Alqasir","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Spirit. Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref3","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"878","DOI":"10.1007\/s11013-023-09816-6","article-title":"Explanatory models of (mental) health among sub-Saharan African migrants in Belgium: a qualitative study of healthcare professionals\u2019 perceptions and practices","volume":"47","author":"Apers","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cult. Med. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1755","DOI":"10.2147\/jmdh.s311900","article-title":"Beliefs about illness and treatment decision modelling during ill-health in Arabic families","volume":"14","author":"Arabiat","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Multidiscip. Healthc."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.3998\/jmmh.10381607.0013.205","article-title":"Development and validation of the Muslims\u2019 perceptions and attitudes to mental health (M-PAMH) scale with a sample of American Muslim women","volume":"13","author":"Awaad","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Muslim Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1177\/13634615211064370","article-title":"Explanatory models, illness, and treatment experiences of patients with psychosis using the services of traditional and faith healers in three African countries: similarities and discontinuities","volume":"60","author":"Ayinde","year":"2021","journal-title":"Transcult. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref12","volume-title":"Jinn Possession, black magic, or mental Illness the impact of Demographic Factors & Religion on People's Perceptions Unpublished Undergraduate project","author":"Ayub","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.54783\/ijsoc.v5i1.634","article-title":"Apartheid policy in South Africa","volume":"5","author":"Ayubi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Sci. Soc."},{"key":"ref14","volume-title":"Muslim beliefs","author":"Badawi","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref15","first-page":"37","volume-title":"Slavery in the Islamic World: Its Characteristics and Commonality","author":"Baderoon","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/09540261.2020.1777748","article-title":"Culture and mental illnesses","volume":"33","author":"Bhugra","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. Rev. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1626","DOI":"10.1007\/s11606-012-2141-2","article-title":"The role of patients\u2019 explanatory models and daily-lived experience in hypertension self-management","volume":"27","author":"Bokhour","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Gen. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1037\/13620-004","volume-title":"APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, Vol 2: Research Designs: Quantitative, Qualitative, Neuropsychological, and Biological","author":"Braun","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.4102\/sajpsychiatry.v19i2.396","article-title":"Exploring the role of Islam in perceptions of mental illness in a sample of Muslim psychiatrists based in Johannesburg","volume":"19","author":"Bulbulia","year":"2013","journal-title":"S. Afr. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2051","DOI":"10.1007\/s10943-020-01094-5","article-title":"Islam and mental disorders of the older adults: religious text, belief system and caregiving practices","volume":"60","author":"Daher-Nashif","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Relig. Health"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"287","DOI":"10.30829\/jai.v12i2.18549","article-title":"The concept of dhikr in Sufism and its practices and benefits in life","volume":"12","author":"Daniyarti","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal Analytica Islamica"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"657","DOI":"10.1080\/13674676.2020.1834220","article-title":"Religious healing and mental health","volume":"23","author":"Dein","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ment. Health Relig. Cult."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.26417\/ejms.v6i1.p325-336","article-title":"Islamic identity, ethical principles and human values","volume":"6","author":"Ebrahimi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Europ. J. Multidiscip. Stud."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-244x-14-191","article-title":"Psychiatric stigma and discrimination in South Africa: perspectives from key stakeholders","volume":"14","author":"Egbe","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0293525","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0293525","article-title":"Mental illness and help-seeking behaviours among middle eastern cultures: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative data","volume":"18","author":"Elshamy","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref27","volume-title":"After the Honeymoon: Muslim Religious Leadership and Political Engagement in a post-Apartheid South Africa","author":"Fataar","year":"2009"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.33425\/2641-4333.1011","article-title":"Perception of Pakistani population regarding the effects of jinn, evil eye and black magic on physical and mental health","volume":"2","author":"Fawad","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neurol. Res. Surg."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1671","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-023-16622-7","article-title":"Mental illness stigma as a moderator in the relationship between religiosity and help-seeking attitudes among Muslims from 16 Arab countries","volume":"23","author":"Fekih-Romdhane","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1007\/s10943-004-4302-z","article-title":"Psychology from Islamic perspective: contributions of early Muslim scholars and challenges to contemporary Muslim psychologists","volume":"43","author":"Haque","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Relig. Health"},{"key":"ref9007","first-page":"87","article-title":"The spiritual significance of Barzakh in the Qur\u2019an: an analysis of quraish shihab\\u0027s thought","volume":"9","author":"Harahap","year":"2024","journal-title":"Jurnal At-Tibyan: Jurnal Ilmu Alqur\\u0027an dan Tafsir"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.7196\/sajp.400","article-title":"Considering the cultural context in psychopathology formulations","volume":"19","author":"Hassim","year":"2013","journal-title":"S. Afr. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref32","volume-title":"Cultures and Organisations: Software of the Mind","author":"Hofstede","year":"1991"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1080\/2153599X.2021.1980426","article-title":"Impact of religiosity and supernatural belief on individuals\u2019 visitation to religious healers","volume":"11","author":"Hossain","year":"2021","journal-title":"Relig. Brain Behav."},{"key":"ref34","year":""},{"key":"ref35","volume-title":"Qualitative ResearchMethods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy: A Guide for Students and Practitioners","author":"Joffe","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1007\/s11089-023-01057-z","article-title":"A comparison of superstitious beliefs and rituals in Buddhism and Islam","volume":"73","author":"Khan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Pastoral Psychol."},{"key":"ref9005","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1177\/1363461512444673","volume":"49","author":"Kirmayer","year":"2012","journal-title":"Rethinking cultural competence. Transcultural psychiatry"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1525\/aa.1978.80.3.02a00170","article-title":"What kind of model for the anthropology of medical systems?","volume":"80","author":"Kleinman","year":"","journal-title":"Am. Anthropol."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.7326\/0003-4819-88-2-251","article-title":"Culture, illness, and care: clinical lessons from anthropologic and cross-cultural research","volume":"88","author":"Kleinman","year":"","journal-title":"Ann. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1525\/9780520340848","volume-title":"Patients and Healers in the Context of Culture","author":"Kleinman","year":"1980"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100206","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssmmh.2023.100206","article-title":"History and politics of mental health policy and care in South Africa","volume":"3","author":"Kleintjies","year":"2023","journal-title":"SSM \u2013 Mental Health"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"833","DOI":"10.1007\/s10943-018-0668-1","article-title":"Muslim traditional healers in Accra, Ghana: beliefs about and treatment of mental disorders","volume":"58","author":"Kpobi","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Relig. Health"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1177\/0081246314528149","article-title":"An overview of illness conceptualizations in African, Hindu, and Islamic traditions: towards cultural competence","volume":"44","author":"Laher","year":"2014","journal-title":"S. Afr. J. Psychol."},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461-016-1358-1","article-title":"Mental health and wellness among Muslim students: integrating Islamic practices and modern medicine","volume":"34","author":"Laksana","year":"2025","journal-title":"Al-Qanatir Int. J. Islam. Stud."},{"key":"ref9002","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2018.00089","article-title":"The attribution of mental health problems to Jinn: An explorative study in a transcultural psychiatric outpatient clinic","volume":"9","author":"Lim","year":"2018","journal-title":"Frontiers in psychiatry"},{"key":"ref44","volume-title":"Culture and Psychology","author":"Matsumoto","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"763","DOI":"10.1177\/1363461520962603","article-title":"Conceptualising and addressing mental disorders amongst Muslim communities: approaches from the Islamic Golden age","volume":"57","author":"Mitha","year":"2020","journal-title":"Transcult. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref46","first-page":"103","article-title":"Community access to mental health services: lessons and recommendations: primary health care: programme areas","volume":"2008","author":"Mkhize","year":"2008","journal-title":"S. Afr. Health Rev."},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.3998\/jmmh.10381607.0012.104","article-title":"Conceptions of depression of Muslim clergy in a faith-based organization in South Africa","volume":"12","author":"Moodley","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Muslim Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1207\/S15328023TOP2803_07","article-title":"Demonstrating social constructionism in psychology courses: the\" who am I?\" exercise","volume":"28","author":"Moradi","year":"2001","journal-title":"Teach. Psychol."},{"key":"ref9003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118924396.wbiea1915","article-title":"Witchcraft, sorcery, and magic","author":"Moro","year":"2018","journal-title":"The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology"},{"key":"ref49","year":""},{"key":"ref50","volume-title":"The Cost of Equality: The Struggles of Marginalized Groups in South Africa","author":"Netshivhambe","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16094069241306332","DOI":"10.1177\/16094069241306332","article-title":"Enhancing the potentials of the focus group discussion\u2013engaging frequently neglected but essential situational factors for analyzing data","volume":"23","author":"Ning","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Qual Methods"},{"key":"ref9006","author":"Partridge","year":"2024","journal-title":"After Access 2022-2023"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1824","DOI":"10.1007\/s10943-018-0572-8","article-title":"Impact of Quran in treatment of the psychological disorder and spiritual illness","volume":"59","author":"Saged","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Relig. Health"},{"key":"ref9001","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1177\/00220221221077361","article-title":"\u201cThe question is not how but why things happen\u201d: South African traditional healers\u2019 explanatory model of mental illness, its diagnosis and treatment","volume":"53","author":"Shange","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.25159\/2958-3918\/16009","article-title":"The influence of culture and religion in coping with a mental illness by the residents of the eastern cape province, South Africa","volume":"14","author":"Sikrweqe","year":"2024","journal-title":"New Voices in Psychology"},{"key":"ref9004","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4314\/ajpsy.v13i4.61878","article-title":"Explanatory models of mental disorders and treatment practices among traditional healers in Mpumulanga, South Africa","volume":"13","author":"Sorsdahl","year":"2010","journal-title":"African Journal of Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref54","volume-title":"What is Culture? A Compilation of Quotations GlobalPAD Core Concepts","author":"Spencer-Oatey","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2123090","DOI":"10.1080\/17482631.2022.2123090","article-title":"Traditional, religious, and cultural perspectives on mental illness: a qualitative study on causal beliefs and treatment use","volume":"17","author":"Subu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Qual. Stud. Health Well Being"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2333393616630466","DOI":"10.1177\/2333393616630466","article-title":"Methodological aspects of focus groups in health research: results of qualitative interviews with focus group moderators","volume":"3","author":"Tausch","year":"2016","journal-title":"Glob Qual Nurs Res"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1080\/13504630.2020.1814724","article-title":"Muslims in post-apartheid South Africa: race, community, and identity","volume":"27","author":"Vahed","year":"2021","journal-title":"Soc. Identities"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1348\/147608309x467807","article-title":"Muslim views on mental health and psychotherapy","volume":"83","author":"Weatherhead","year":"2010","journal-title":"Psychol Psychother"},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"488","DOI":"10.1093\/eurjcn\/zvae128","article-title":"Interviewing people on sensitive topics: challenges and strategies","volume":"24","author":"Westland","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur. J. Cardiovasc. Nurs."},{"key":"ref60","year":""}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1910057\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T04:28:01Z","timestamp":1790310481000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1910057\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"references-count":66,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1910057"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1910057","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"article-number":"1910057"}}