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Factors Influencing Help-seeking Behavior for Mental Health Among Distressed Young Adults: A Path Analysis Model
Prachi Sanghvi1, Priyesh Chandrashekhar2, Seema Mehrotra1
1Dept. of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
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).
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