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Help-seeking for mental health problems among Chinese

The application and extension of the theory of planned behavior

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Abstract

The underutilization of professional care is a perennial problem among Chinese populations. To examine the social-cognitive factors that may affect help-seeking intentions, the present study applied and extended Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand the intention to seek help from mental health professionals among Chinese. The effect of mental health and perceived barriers to help-seeking were also examined. Nine hundred and forty-one Chinese were recruited using a randomized household design in Hong Kong. Results from structural equation modeling showed that attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and perceived barriers significantly predicted help-seeking intention. Mental health showed no significant effect on help-seeking intention. In addition, subjective norm indirectly predicted intention to seek help from mental health professionals through influencing attitude and perceived behavioral control. Results from multi-group analyses revealed that all path coefficients were invariant across gender. Results supported the utilization of TPB in understanding help-seeking intentions and highlighted the importance of subjective norm among Chinese. Implications on the enhancement of mental health awareness and the promotion of mental health services through a social-cognitive approach were highlighted.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham, B Floor, International House, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK

    Phoenix K. H. Mo

  2. Dept. of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong (SAR), China

    Winnie W. S. Mak

Authors
  1. Phoenix K. H. Mo
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  2. Winnie W. S. Mak
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Correspondence to Phoenix K. H. Mo.

Appendices

Appendix

Items for the theory of planned behavior question:

Help-seeking intention

  1. 1.

    I intend to seek mental health service.

  2. 2.

    I will try to seek mental health service.

  3. 3.

    I plan to seek mental health service.

Attitude towards help-seeking

For me to seek mental health service is:

  1. 1.

    Very useless–very useful

  2. 2.

    Very worthless–very worthwhile

  3. 3.

    Very bad–very good

  4. 4.

    Very foolish–very wise

  5. 5.

    Very rare–very common

Subjective norm

  1. 1.

    Most people who are important to me think that I should seek mental health service.

  2. 2.

    Most people who are important to me view mental health service very negatively.

  3. 3.

    Most people who are important to me will seek mental health service if they are in need.

Perceived behavioral control

  1. 1.

    I think I can decide whether to seek mental health service or not.

  2. 2.

    Seeking mental health service is dependent on my choice.

  3. 3.

    I can seek mental health service if I like to do so.

Perceived barriers in seeking mental health service

  1. 1.

    I think I can get the information about mental health service easily.

  2. 2.

    I don’t know where to seek mental health service.

  3. 3.

    I can’t afford the money needed for mental health service

  4. 4.

    The whole process of mental health service takes a long time.

  5. 5.

    The whole process of mental health service is complicated.

  6. 6.

    I think it is hard to find a mental health service that is suitable for me.

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Mo, P.K.H., Mak, W.W.S. Help-seeking for mental health problems among Chinese. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 44, 675–684 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0484-0

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