Psychosocial Factors Associated with Help-Seeking Intention Among Adults in Rural Japan

Clarifying the psychosocial factors associated with help-seeking intention among residents in rural areas is essential for developing community-based support systems and preventing social isolation. This study examined psychosocial factors associated with help-seeking intention among adults in a rural region of Japan.

A total of 448 adults living in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, participated in an online survey. Measures included help-seeking intention, perceived social climate, intrapersonal factors, social and interpersonal resources, and attitudes and skills related to help-seeking. Hierarchical logistic regression was conducted, with age and gender in Step 1 and 23 psychosocial variables in Step 2 using forward likelihood-ratio selection. Multicollinearity was assessed, and sensitivity analyses examined robustness.

Individuals who believed that "it is unavoidable to burden others as long as one is alive" had higher help-seeking intention (OR = 2.69). Those endorsing that "it is better to be useful to others" also showed higher intention (OR = 4.94). Participants who had consulted someone during childhood worries were more likely to have help-seeking intention (OR = 6.48). Having a place to connect with others outside home, school, or work was associated with higher intention (OR = 1.90). Believing that "being listened to is meaningful" was associated with higher intention (OR = 2.59), and willingness to "consult another person if the first consultation did not go well" was also positive (OR = 3.88). In contrast, individuals who felt isolated (OR = 0.43) and those who did not know how to seek support (OR = 0.30) were less likely to have help-seeking intention.

Help-seeking intention in rural adults was associated with diverse psychosocial factors, including tolerance toward burdening others, value of being useful, childhood help-seeking experience, third places, perceived value of being listened to, persistence in help-seeking, subjective isolation, and uncertainty about how to seek help.