OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience
Advanced Search
Frontiers in psychology
2024;15 1356435.

The relationship between mental health literacy and professional psychological help-seeking behavior among Chinese college students: mediating roles of perceived social support and psychological help-seeking stigma.

Xiao Yang, Jun Hu, Bingren Zhang, Hua Ding, Danying Hu, Hangdong Li
Author Information
  1. Xiao Yang: Mental Health Education and Counseling Center, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
  2. Jun Hu: School of Marxism, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
  3. Bingren Zhang: Affiliated Hospital (School of Clinical Medicine), Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
  4. Hua Ding: School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
  5. Danying Hu: Mental Health Education and Counseling Center, Ningbo Polytechnic, Ningbo, China.
  6. Hangdong Li: Mental Health Education and Counseling Center, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China.
PMID: 38939229 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1356435

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health literacy is viewed as a significant factor that may facilitate an individual's pursuit of professional psychological assistance. However, it is important to explore further influencing factors that might underlie this association. This study, employing the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), aims to examine the relationship between mental health literacy and the behavior of seeking professional psychological help, with a focus on the potential mediating roles of perceived stigma and social support in this context.
Methods: We surveyed 911 college students in seven regions of China (406 males and 505 females, aged between 19 and 25 years old;  = 19.65, SD = 1.41) utilizing self-report measures, including the Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire, Professional Psychological Help-Seeking Behavior Scale, Professional Psychological Help-Seeking Stigma Scale, and Perceived Social Support Scale. A chain mediation model was developed to analyze the interconnections between mental health literacy, stigma related to seeking psychological help, perceived social support, and professional psychological help-seeking behaviors.
Results: The mediation effect analysis indicates that: (1) mental health literacy significantly positively correlates with professional psychological help-seeking behaviors; (2) both perceived social support and professional psychological help-seeking stigma significantly mediate the relationship between mental health literacy and professional psychological help-seeking behavior; (3) perceived social support and the stigma associated with seeking professional psychological help play a chained mediating effect between mental health literacy and the behavior of seeking professional psychological help.
Discussion: This study found that mental health literacy indirectly facilitates professional psychological help-seeking behaviors by enhancing the perception of social support and reducing the stigma associated with seeking such help. These findings help in understanding how improving mental health literacy and perceived social support while reducing stigma can increase the likelihood of individuals seeking professional psychological assistance. The results are significant for enhancing the utilization of mental health services and implementing mental health education programs in universities.

Keywords

college students mental health literacy perceived social support professional psychological help-seeking psychological help-seeking stigma

References

  1. Psychol Med. 2015 Jan;45(1):11-27 [PMID: 24569086]
  2. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Feb;30(2):183-211 [PMID: 31965309]
  3. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Apr;210(4):261-268 [PMID: 28153928]
  4. BMC Psychiatry. 2010 Dec 30;10:113 [PMID: 21192795]
  5. Psychol Health Med. 2024 Apr;29(4):765-777 [PMID: 37220277]
  6. Am Psychol. 2012 Apr;67(3):231-43 [PMID: 22040221]
  7. J Am Coll Health. 2022 Sep 9;:1-9 [PMID: 36084266]
  8. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2012 Feb;6(1):45-52 [PMID: 22182365]
  9. Psychiatr Serv. 2008 Nov;59(11):1292-8 [PMID: 18971405]
  10. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2014 Jun;23(2):177-87 [PMID: 23866069]
  11. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2015 Jun;38(2):203-6 [PMID: 26075531]
  12. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2022 Apr;29(2):307-316 [PMID: 34453870]
  13. Psychol Rev. 2011 Jul;118(3):482-95 [PMID: 21534704]
  14. Behav Sci (Basel). 2022 Dec 24;13(1): [PMID: 36661589]
  15. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2002 Winter;32(4):394-403 [PMID: 12501964]
  16. Med Care Res Rev. 2009 Oct;66(5):522-41 [PMID: 19454625]
  17. Psychiatry Res. 2016 Sep 30;243:278-86 [PMID: 27423635]
  18. J Affect Disord. 2012 Jun;139(1):94-7 [PMID: 22406335]
  19. Psychiatry Res. 2019 Nov;281:112581 [PMID: 31586833]
  20. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Jun 29;14(3):e69 [PMID: 22743352]
  21. BMC Public Health. 2006 Aug 22;6:215 [PMID: 16923195]
  22. BMC Public Health. 2017 Sep 18;17(1):717 [PMID: 28923031]
  23. J Am Coll Health. 2018 May-Jun;66(4):284-291 [PMID: 29419361]
  24. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2019 Jun;269(4):469-479 [PMID: 29679153]
  25. J Couns Psychol. 2023 Jan;70(1):90-102 [PMID: 36074628]
  26. Int J Nurs Pract. 2011 Jun;17(3):280-8 [PMID: 21605269]
  27. Br J Psychiatry. 2000 Nov;177:396-401 [PMID: 11059991]
  28. J Am Coll Health. 2013;61(7):398-406 [PMID: 24010494]
  29. Front Psychiatry. 2020 May 14;11:417 [PMID: 32477190]
  30. Br J Psychiatry. 2007 Mar;190:192-3 [PMID: 17329736]
  31. J Abnorm Psychol. 2018 Oct;127(7):623-638 [PMID: 30211576]
  32. J Adolesc Health. 2020 Jul;67(1):101-107 [PMID: 32115325]
  33. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2021 Nov;67(7):935-945 [PMID: 33231134]
  34. J Affect Disord. 2018 Oct 1;238:289-296 [PMID: 29902732]
  35. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2020 Oct 27;13:845-854 [PMID: 33149708]
  36. Med Care. 2007 Jul;45(7):594-601 [PMID: 17571007]
  37. Psychiatry Res. 2017 Jun;252:1-8 [PMID: 28237758]
  38. BMC Psychiatry. 2020 Jun 22;20(1):323 [PMID: 32571270]
  39. Front Psychiatry. 2023 Nov 13;14:1289511 [PMID: 38025482]
  40. BMC Psychiatry. 2020 Nov 25;20(1):562 [PMID: 33238951]
  41. J Couns Psychol. 2020 Jan;67(1):132-140 [PMID: 31343214]
  42. Health Psychol Behav Med. 2014 Jan 1;2(1):1009-1022 [PMID: 25750831]
  43. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2006 Jul;12(3):420-32 [PMID: 16881747]
  44. Int J Ment Health Syst. 2021 Apr 28;15(1):39 [PMID: 33910611]
  45. J Couns Psychol. 2018 Oct;65(5):661-668 [PMID: 30035590]
  46. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2015 Jun;38(2):109-116 [PMID: 25844914]
  47. Psych J. 2023 Feb;12(1):119-127 [PMID: 36174984]
  48. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2022 Jun;68(4):791-797 [PMID: 33840255]
  49. Psychiatr Serv. 2009 Sep;60(9):1222-9 [PMID: 19723737]
  50. Clin Psychol Rev. 2017 Mar;52:52-68 [PMID: 28013081]
  51. Med J Aust. 1997 Feb 17;166(4):182-6 [PMID: 9066546]
  52. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2003 Oct;253(5):248-51 [PMID: 14504994]
  53. Psychol Serv. 2017 Nov;14(4):513-523 [PMID: 29120209]
  54. Transcult Psychiatry. 2018 Dec;55(6):754-774 [PMID: 30113276]
  55. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2007 Dec;19(6):647-54 [PMID: 18092242]
  56. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Feb;30(2):243-251 [PMID: 32180026]
  57. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 Jan;51(1):8-17.e8 [PMID: 22176935]
  58. J Am Coll Health. 2012;60(2):104-14 [PMID: 22316407]
  59. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;40(1):51-4 [PMID: 16403038]
  60. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Aug;27(4):393-405 [PMID: 31954091]
  61. Psychosom Med. 1987 Jul-Aug;49(4):331-40 [PMID: 3615762]
  62. J Couns Psychol. 2013 Oct;60(4):520-531 [PMID: 23815629]
  63. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2007 Dec;19(6):655-70 [PMID: 18092243]
  64. Psychiatry Res. 2024 Jan;331:115673 [PMID: 38113809]
  65. Front Psychiatry. 2020 May 20;11:442 [PMID: 32508688]
  66. J Couns Psychol. 2013 Jan;60(1):98-111 [PMID: 23356468]
  67. J Urban Health. 2001 Sep;78(3):458-67 [PMID: 11564849]
  68. BMC Psychiatry. 2012 Jul 16;12:81 [PMID: 22799879]
  69. Cult Med Psychiatry. 2007 Sep;31(3):389-402 [PMID: 17874177]
  70. Med J Aust. 2007 Oct 1;187(S7):S26-30 [PMID: 17908021]
Journal Article

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0psychologicalhealthprofessionalmentalliteracyhelp-seekingstigmasocialsupportperceivedseekinghelpbehaviorrelationshipmediatingcollegeScalebehaviorsMentalsignificantassistancestudyBehaviorrolesstudentsProfessionalPsychologicalHelp-SeekingmediationeffectsignificantlyassociatedenhancingreducingIntroduction:viewedfactormayfacilitateindividual'spursuitHoweverimportantexploreinfluencingfactorsmightunderlieassociationemployingframeworkTheoryPlannedTPBaimsexaminefocuspotentialcontextMethods:surveyed911sevenregionsChina406males505femalesaged1925yearsold = 1965SD = 141utilizingself-reportmeasuresincludingHealthLiteracyQuestionnaireStigmaPerceivedSocialSupportchainmodeldevelopedanalyzeinterconnectionsrelatedResults:analysisindicatesthat:1positivelycorrelates2mediate3playchainedDiscussion:foundindirectlyfacilitatesperceptionfindingsunderstandingimprovingcanincreaselikelihoodindividualsresultsutilizationservicesimplementingeducationprogramsuniversitiesamongChinesestudents:

Similar Articles

Cited By