| The current study aimed to examine (a) the relationships among demographic and psychological variables and help seeking intentions and behaviors among Caucasians and Asian Americans, noting inter- and intra-ethnic comparisons of predictor and outcome variables; and (b) specific factors that may contribute to help seeking intentions and behaviors among Asian Americans. The total sample consisted of 216 (108 Asian Americans, 108 Caucasians) college students who met study requirements. The participants completed an online survey that included questions about demographic information, psychological symptoms, attributions about mental illness, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, self-, family, and cultural stigma related to seeking psychological help, enculturation, help-seeking intentions, and help-seeking behaviors. Asian Americans reported lower levels of anxiety than Caucasians. Among Asian Americans, reported symptoms of depression were positively associated with recent and lifetime help seeking behaviors, and symptoms were positively correlated with informal help seeking. Asian Americans also reported less favorable attitudes towards psychological help seeking than Caucasians. Among Asian Americans, more favorable attitudes towards seeking psychological help were significantly predictive of help seeking intentions. However, only perceived need for treatment was predictive of help seeking behaviors. Asian Americans were less likely than Caucasians to make a biological or psychological attribution for an individual with a depressive disorder. However, Asian Americans who conceptualized a mental health issue as biological were more likely to seek psychological services during their lifetime. As predicted, Asian Americans were more likely to report self-, family, and cultural stigma for seeking psychological services than Caucasians, but less likely to intend to seek psychological services and engage in actual help seeking behaviors. Stigma was not related to help seeking intentions and behaviors. Asian Americans' reports of enculturation were significantly related to perceived stigma for seeking psychological services and lifetime help seeking behavior, but not related to attitudes towards seeking psychological help or recent help seeking behaviors. The current study adds to our understanding of factors that may influence or discourage Asian American college students from seeking psychological services. |
