Factors Influencing Help-seeking Behavior for Mental Health Among Distressed Young Adults: A Path Analysis Model

Abstract

Background: There seems to be a relationship between barriers of distress-perception and stigma to consult a mental health professional (MHP), help-seeking inclination from MHP, help negation, and encouragement from significant others (SO) to consult MHP in bringing about a change in help-seeking behavior. However, these have not been studied in tandem. This study aimed to explore the relationship between factors influencing help-seeking behavior among distressed, non-treatment-seeking young adults (D-NTS) for common mental health concerns following the ReachOut intervention.

Methods: A total of 109 D-NTS aged 20-35 engaged with ReachOut were recruited online using purposive and snowball sampling. ReachOut was aimed at enhancing professional help-seeking. Participants were assessed at baseline and one month post-intervention for help-seeking barriers, inclination, and encouragement from SO. Help-seeking behavior from MHP was evaluated at a two-month follow-up. Inferential statistics in the form of Spearman's rho correlation, logistic regression, and path analysis were computed.

Results: Regression analysis revealed a significant model (χ² = 34.53, P < .001) with an R² value of 0.52. Help-seeking inclination from MHP (B = 0.711, P = .037), help negation (B = -0.452, P = .039), and encouragement from SO to consult MHP (B = 1.942, P = .008) at post-assessment were significant predictors of help-seeking behavior, assessed at follow-up. The SEM hypothesized for path analysis with help-seeking behavior as the outcome was a good fit.

Conclusion: Help-seeking decisions are complex processes influenced by an intricate interplay of internal and external factors. A comprehensive examination of these elements simultaneously provides valuable insights for tailoring interventions and strategies aimed at enhancing help-seeking behavior in D-NTS young adults.

Trial registration: The intervention trial was registered in the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN14504454).

Keywords: Help-seeking behavior; Help-seeking inclination; Help-seeking intervention; Psychological distress; Young adults.

Figure 1.. Hypothesized Model Predicting Help-seeking Behavior.

Although two moderators are presented together for clarity, they were tested separately. MHP: mental health professionals; SO: significant others.

Figure 2.. Participants Flow Throughout the Study.

Figure 3.. A Model Predicting Help-seeking Behavior from Mental Health Professionals (MHPs) with a distress-perception barrier, Help Negation, and Help-Seeking Inclination from MHPs at Post-assessment as Independent Variables. Baseline Help-seeking Inclination, Encouragement from Significant Others to Consult, and Stigma as a Barrier at Post-assessment Act as Moderating Variables.

Post-distress perception = distress-perception barrier sub-scale at post-assessment; Post-negation = Help negation at post-assessment; Pre-inclination = Help-seeking inclination from MHP at baseline assessment; Post-inclination = Help-seeking inclination from MHP at post-assessment; Post-encouragement = Encouragement from nominated significant other at post-assessment; Post-stigma = Stigma barrier sub-scale at post-assessment; FU.HSB = Help-seeking behavior at follow-up.