The Mental Health HelpSeeking Attitudes and Intentions of

The Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitudes and Intentions of Future Healthcare Professionals: A Theory of Planned Behavior Dustin Summers, Psy. D. & Nathaniel Krumdick, Ph. D. Midwestern University ABSTRACT The current study examined the mental health helpseeking attitudes and intentions of future healthcare professionals (FHPs) within the framework of theory of planned behavior (TPB). FHPs’ help-seeking attitudes accounted for 24. 7% of the variance of their help-seeking intentions, but the three attitudinal components of the TPB were not similarly predictive. INTRODUCTION • 1 in 4 American adults experience a diagnosable mental illness in a given year 19 • Out of those 61. 5 million American adults, 60% will not seek mental health (MH) services 19 • Future healthcare professionals (FHPs) experience higher rates of psychological distress and around 80% of distressed FHPs will not seek MH services 12, 14 Prevalence Rates of Psychological Distress Depression 19, 13 Generalized Anxiety 19, 3 Suicidal Ideation 19, 21 American Adults Future Healthcare Professionals 6. 7% 21. 2% 3. 1% 11. 5% • Participants were 982 FHPs from Midwestern University • Provided surveys in class following approval from IRB, program directors, and professors • Optional participation was compensated with a chance to win one of four $25 Visa gift cards Age Overall Sample (n = 982) Osteopathic Medicine (n = 235) (23. 9% of overall sample) Pharmacy (n = 306) (31. 2% of overall sample) Physical Therapy 3. 3% 6. 4% (n = 77) (7. 8% of overall sample) Occupational Therapy BARRIERS TO SEEKING HELP • General public stigma and self stigma 4 • Traditional masculinity ideology 32 • Healthcare and program culture 15 • Perceived negative career impact 30 • Time to seek care 30 • Costs of treatment 12 • Confidentiality concerns 28 NEGATIVE IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS ON FHPS • Burnout 9, 34 • Decrease in quality of life 16, 34 • Impaired patient care 26, 27 • Dishonest clinical and academic behavior 8 • Impaired academic performance 34 • Financial 9 (n = 83) (8. 5% of overall sample) Dental Medicine (n = 281) (28. 6% of overall sample) Mean = 25. 23 SD = 2. 99 Median = 25 Mode = 24 Mean = 25. 39 SD = 2. 13 Median = 25 Mode = 24 Mean = 24. 71 SD = 3. 26 Median = 24 Mode = 23 Mean = 24. 44 SD = 2. 81 Median = 24 Mode = 24 Mean = 24. 84 SD = 3. 26 Median = 24 Mode = 24 Mean = 25. 97 SD = 3. 09 Median = 25 Mode = 25 Gender Dustin Summers, Psy. D Plainfield Counseling Center Dustin@plainfieldcounselingcenter. com Phone: 815 -676 -4688 ext. 8 PURPOSE OF CURRENT STUDY • Fill the research gap related to FHPs’ MH help-seeking attitudes and intentions • Utilize the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to: • Assess predictive ability of the TPB for MH helpseeking 1, 2, 11 • Determine if the three attitudinal/control components of the TPB are equally predictive of FHPs’ MH help-seeking intentions Program Year Male = 433 (44. 1%) Female = 549 (55. 9%) 1 st = 325 (33. 1%) 2 nd = 437 (44. 5%) 3 rd = 213 (21. 7%) 4 th = 7 (. 7%) 1 st = 54 (23%) Male = 135 (57. 4%) nd Female = 100 (42. 6%) 2 th = 174 (74%) 4 = 7 (3%) 1 st = 107 (35%) Male = 100 (32. 7%) nd Female = 206 (67. 3%) 2 rd = 81 (26. 5%) 3 = 118 (28. 6%) 1 st = 31 (40. 3%) Male = 19 (24. 7%) nd Female = 58 (75. 3%) 2 = 46 (59. 7) 1 st = 43 (51. 8%) Male = 17 (20. 5%) nd Female = 66 (79. 5%) 2 = 40 (48. 2%) 1 st = 90 (32%) Male = 162 (57. 7%) nd Female = 119 (42. 3%) 2 rd = 96 (34. 2%) 3 = 95 (33. 8%) MEASURES • Demographic questionnaire • Inventory of Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS) 16 • Used to measure three attitudinal/control components of the TPB regarding seeking MH services • Modified General Help-Seeking Questionnaire- Vignette version (GHSQ-V) 5, 35 • Used to measure MH help-seeking intentions Psychological Openness (B =. 049, p >. 05) (Attitude toward seeking help) Indifference to Stigma (B =. 076, p <. 05) (Subjective norm) Help-Seeking Propensity • The three attitudinal/control components of the TPB predicted 25% of the variance related to FHPs’ mental health help-seeking intentions • The three attitudinal/control components of the TPB demonstrated differing relationships with FHPs’ mental health help-seeking intentions • As FHPs’ help-seeking propensity increased, positive MH help-seeking intentions increased as well • Strongest predictive relationship • As FHPs’ indifference to stigma increased, positive MH help-seeking intentions also increased • Psychological openness was not predictive of FHPs’ MH help-seeking intentions • Why not equally predictive? • Factors related to perceived and actual behavioral control are most influential, while social influences also impact FHPs’ decision to seek MH services • FHPs’ attitude toward MH services may not influence their MH help-seeking intentions • IASMHS not representative of all FHPs’ unique attitudinal and subjective norm beliefs 2, 25, 31, 32 • Specificity and correspondence related to FHPs’ attitude toward MH services • Negative skew for the Modified GHSQ-V • More favorable response pattern possibly due to response and social desirability bias 20 • Response pattern was more favorable for helpseeking propensity scale (behavioral control) • Other variables not accounted for by the TPB 2, 6, 10, 30 • Anticipated regret and self-identify 21, 23 • Perceived effective alternative options LIMITATIONS • Modified GHSQ-V is a pilot measure adapted from the original GHSQ-V • Concerns about the IASMHS being consistent with TPB RESULTS (B =. 445, p <. 001) CONTACT DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS Mental Health Help. Seeking Intentions (R 2 =. 247 F (3, 978) = 107. 08, p <. 001) (Perceived behavioral control) • 24. 7% of the total variance of MH help-seeking intentions was explained by the three IASMHS subscales (R 2 =. 247 F (3, 978) = 107. 08, p =. 000) • The three attitudinal components of the TPB were not equally predictive of FHPs’ MH help-seeking intentions • Help-seeking propensity (perceived behavioral control) was most predictive and explained 16. 7% of the variance FUTURE RESEARCH • Do MH help-seeking intentions predict behavior? • Examine if predictive relationship changes as a function of gender, program or previous utilization of MH services • Revision of IASMHS and Modified GHSQ-V • Use results to develop a MH promoting program CONCLUSION • Support for the predictive ability of the TPB related to FHPs’ MH help-seeking attitudes and intentions • Findings and the TPB can provide guidance for developing a MH promoting program 2, 18, 29, 33 REFERENCES • Available upon request