Factors associated with mental health service use in urban, impoverished, trauma-exposed adults

This study utilized the Expanded Behavioral Model of Health Service Use Among Vulnerable Populations to investigate disparities in mental health care use among a community sample of urban, impoverished, trauma-exposed adults. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 135 adults with a lifetime history of traumatic stress exposure. Results suggested approximately 20% of the sample were receiving mental health services, and these individuals were primarily getting services at outpatient mental health facilities. Social support, positive attitudes toward treatment seeking, and occupational disability were significantly associated with current mental health service use. Logistic regression analyses indicated that after controlling for significant covariates, occupational disability was the only need variable that predicted current mental health service utilization (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.45, p < .01). Improving attitudes toward treatment seeking as well as identifying occupational difficulties may be important avenues for improving willingness to seek care and decreasing disparities in care for trauma-exposed adults. Implications for mental health policy and practice are discussed.