Factors influencing the help-seeking behavior of older adults

Statistics indicate that approximately 2-5 million adults over the age of 65 suffer from a depressive illness, with an additional 5 million older persons experiencing symptoms of depression that fall just below the threshold of a major depressive disorder. The need exists to accurately identify and treat depression in the older adult population; however, the misdiagnosis and under-treatment of geriatric depression is prevalent. In addition to various societal factors, the help-seeking behavior of older adults may be contributing to the problem of untreated depression. This study explored the factors purported to influence the help-seeking behavior of older adults, specifically examining the impact of type of problem experienced (e.g. psychological or physical), level of perceived stigma toward mental health services, and sex, in addition to an exploratory factor of fear of cognitive decline. Self-report data was collected from a sample of 61 medically health community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 to 85, who were neither experiencing cognitive dysfunction nor depression. Results indicate that the type of problem experienced, perceived stigma, and fear of cognitive decline are associated with help-seeking behavior among older adults. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of those factors that limit or impact an older adult's willingness to seek help and point to issues that need to be targeted in intervention and outreach programs.