{
  "abstract": "Women’s mental health remains underrepresented in empirical research and policy across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), despite expanding national health-surveillance capacity. This study examines gender disparities in anxiety and depression among Saudi women, barriers to mental-healthcare access, and principles for culturally integrated care. A multi-source secondary analytical design integrated published aggregate indicators from four official Saudi national statistical sources with a structured, theory-informed synthesis of peer-reviewed evidence. The national-data component involved structured extraction, cross-source comparison, and integrated interpretation of published aggregate indicators; no individual-level microdata were re-analyzed and no pooled prevalence estimates were generated. The complementary literature component involved structured searching and abstract-level screening followed by purposive thematic selection from retrievable evidence to contextualize patterns identified in the national data rather than constitute a completed systematic review. The two evidence streams were integrated using the proposed Islamic Biopsychosocial–Spiritual (BPSS-I) framework, a theory-generating extension of Engel’s model that incorporates family-system dynamics, honor-based stigma, gender-specific determinants, and Islamic psychospiritual constructs. National indicators show severe anxiety in 9.0% of women compared with 6.9% of men. A substantial treatment gap is also evident: only 13.6% of Saudis with a lifetime mental disorder ever seek treatment, while approximately 80% of those with severe disorders receive no care. Reported postpartum depression prevalence varies considerably across Saudi settings and screening thresholds (approximately 15%–76%), with limited family and spousal support repeatedly identified as important psychosocial correlates. Broader evidence suggests that somatization may contribute to underrecognition of psychological distress, while stigma and family-level reputation concerns may shape help-seeking. Religiosity may function differently depending on positive or negative religious coping. Although women’s workforce participation has increased substantially under Vision 2030, available cross-sectional evidence does not establish corresponding changes in psychological distress or a causal relationship between reform and mental-health outcomes. The integrated analysis highlights the need for longitudinal Saudi-specific research, empirical validation of BPSS-I, and culturally adapted and spiritually responsive interventions tested within Saudi clinical and community settings.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Sharia, College of Sharia and Law, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Adeeb Obaid Alsuhaymi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fouad Ahmed Atallah"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c0ffmrac3811v.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1943335",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13736714/",
  "id": "c0ffmrac3811v",
  "issns": [
    "1664-1078"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1943335",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Mental Health Treatment and Access"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223187408",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1943335/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13736714",
  "pmid": "42991719",
  "published": "2026-10-22",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c0ffmrac3811v.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:22:06Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13736714",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1943335"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2738|Mental Health Treatment and Access",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Women’s mental health in Saudi Arabia: gender gaps, barriers to care, and a culturally integrated framework",
  "title_text": "Women’s mental health in Saudi Arabia: gender gaps, barriers to care, and a culturally integrated framework",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:22:06Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c0ffmrac3811v",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Psychology",
  "versions": []
}