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Perceptions of South Florida Hispanic and Anglo Catholics: From Whom Would They Seek Help?

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Abstract

Hispanic and Anglo Catholics in South Florida who attended Sunday services (N = 473) were surveyed to determine their help-seeking preferences for moral concerns, mental disorders, and practical life/family problems. Respondents were asked to indicate whether they would seek help from a priest; a priest with a degree and license in one of the helping professions (clinical social work, psychology, psychiatry, or mental health counseling); a layperson with a degree and license in one of the helping professions (clinical social work, psychology, psychiatry, or mental health counseling); or if they believed they could deal with the situation without external assistance. The findings suggest that Anglo Catholics prefer assistance from a person who was credentialed in one of the helping professions, whereas Hispanic Catholics would seek help from a priest with or without a background in the helping professions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL

    Michael N. Kane

  2. Our Lady of the Sign Catholic Church, Coconut Creek, FL

    Michael N. Kane

Authors
  1. Michael N. Kane
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  2. Margueritta Williams
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Kane, M.N., Williams, M. Perceptions of South Florida Hispanic and Anglo Catholics: From Whom Would They Seek Help?. Journal of Religion and Health 39, 107–122 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004662415327

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004662415327

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