Depression and Perspectives of Nigerian Immigrant Men in the United States: An Applied Ethnographic Study

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is among the most serious health problems experienced by immigrants. Research has not sufficiently explored the perspectives of immigrant men from male-dominant cultures on depression. The purpose of this study was to describe the perspectives of Nigerian immigrant men in the United States on depression and to determine whether their perceptions differ from those of their female counterparts of a previous study. Method: Focused applied ethnography was used to explore the perspectives of a purposeful sample of 18 Nigerian immigrant men in Houston, Texas, and analyze the data using a thematic approach. Results: The overarching theme was, “Depression does not exist in the Nigerian culture.” The participants denied the existence of depression. Gender differences were not noted in their perception of depression. Discussion: The participants perceived depression differently from the U.S. dominant culture and may not receive adequate screening or treatment for depression, supporting the extant call for recognition of cultural differences in health care.