Subjective explanatory models of psychological disorders in a transcultural context (EXPLAIN)
Assumptions about the causes of mental illness can be influenced by various factors. Subjective explanatory models for mental illness play a key role in determining whether individuals seek (appropriate) help. They can be seen as the result of interindividual differences in knowledge, recognition and evaluation of mental health problems that are influenced by culture and social norms on the one hand, and by individual factors such as personal experience, education and gender on the other. Within the framework of an online-based study, German, Greek, Mexican, Ecuadorian and Russian people from different cultures were asked about their subjective explanatory models regarding post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.