Which of the following is true about entrenched discriminatory beliefs in the context of prevalence and comorbidity?

• A. They are unrelated to the development of comorbid conditions.
• B. They can contribute to higher rates of mental health disorders among marginalized groups.
• C. They typically decrease the prevalence of psychological disorders.
• D. They have no impact on access to mental health care.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of entrenched discriminatory beliefs. These are deeply held negative attitudes or stereotypes about certain groups, often leading to systemic inequality and social marginalization.
2. Step 2: Recognize how such beliefs can affect mental health. Discrimination and stigma can increase stress, reduce self-esteem, and limit access to resources, which are risk factors for developing mental health disorders.
3. Step 3: Consider the concept of prevalence, which refers to how common a disorder is within a population. Entrenched discriminatory beliefs can increase the prevalence of mental health disorders in marginalized groups due to chronic stress and social disadvantage.
4. Step 4: Understand comorbidity, which is the co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same individual. Discriminatory beliefs can contribute to comorbidity by exacerbating stress and limiting effective treatment, leading to multiple overlapping conditions.
5. Step 5: Conclude that entrenched discriminatory beliefs are linked to higher rates of mental health disorders among marginalized groups, impacting both prevalence and comorbidity, and also affecting access to care.