Why not Seek Therapy? The Role of Stigma and Psychological Symptoms in College Students

Abstract

Abstract:The decision to seek therapy can reduce psychological distress and factors like public stigma, self stigma, fear of self exposure to therapist, among others, may constitute barriers in this process. This study investigated: how is the group of variables described in the literature as predictors of seeking therapy, and the relationship of variables associated with stigma and depressive symptoms, anxiogenic symptoms and stress with this search. For this purpose, 272 students responded scales that assessed these variables. The principal component analysis indicated four clusters of variables (symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress; feelings of shame, inadequacy and inhibition; perception of benefits to seek therapy; self stigma and stigma by the others). These components are hierarchically inserted into the multiple regression, indicating that the symptoms have little importance compared to the attitude of seeking therapy and stigmas.Keywords: psychotherapy, mental health, symptoms, coping behavior, stigma Por Que Não Buscar Terapia? O Papel do Estigma e Sintomas Psicológicos em UniversitáriosResumo: A decisão por buscar terapia pode reduzir o sofrimento psicológico e fatores como estigma público, autoestigma, medo da autoexposição ao terapeuta, dentre outros, podem constituir barreiras neste processo. Este estudo investigou como ocorre o agrupamento de variáveis descritas na literatura como preditoras de busca por terapia, e a relação das variáveis associadas à estigmatização e de sintomas depressivos, ansiogênicos e de estresse com essa busca. Para isto 272 universitários responderam escalas que avaliavam estas variáveis. A análise de componentes principais indicou quatro agrupamentos de variáveis (sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse; sentimentos de vergonha, inadequação e inibição; percepção de benefícios ao buscar terapia; auto e hetero estigmas). Estes componentes foram hierarquicamente inseridos na regressão múltipla indicando que a sintomatologia é pouco relevante se comparada à atitude de busca por terapia e os estigmas.Palavras-chave: psicoterapia, saúde mental, sintomas, enfrentamento, estigma ¿Por Qué No Buscar la Terapia? El Papel de Estigma y Síntomas Psicológicos en UniversitariosResumen: Buscar la terapia puede reducir la angustia psicológica y factores como el estigma público, auto-estigma, miedo de la auto-exposición a la terapeuta, entre otros, pueden constituir barreras en este proceso. Este estudio investigó: cómo ocurre el agrupamiento de variables descritas en la literatura como predictores de la búsqueda de la terapia, y la relación de variables asociadas con el estigma y los síntomas depresivos, ansiogénicos y el estrés con esta búsqueda. Para este propósito, 272 estudiantes contestaron escalas que evaluaron estas variables. El análisis de componentes principales indicó cuatro grupos de variables (síntomas de la depresión, la ansiedad y el estrés, sentimientos de vergüenza, insuficiencia y la inhibición, la percepción de los beneficios que buscan terapia, de auto y heter...

Stigma of Seeking Psychological Services: Examining College Students Across Ten Countries/Regions

“…Estimates of the internal consistency (α = .84) and 1-month test-retest reliabilities (r = .80) have been reported for college student samples in the U.S. (Fischer & Turner, 1970). The ATSPPHS-SF has previously been used in countries including Brazil, Portugal, Taiwan, Turkey, and the UAE (Baptista & Zanon, 2016;Chang, 2007;Coppens et al, 2013;Topkaya, 2011aTopkaya, , 2011bTopkaya, , 2015. In these samples, the translated versions of the ATSPPHS-SF generally have shown internal consistency scores between .66 and .84 (Al-Darmaki, 2011;Chang, 2007;McCarthy, Burno, & Sherman, 2010;Topkaya, 2011aTopkaya, , 2011bTopkaya, , 2015).…”

“…The SSOSH has also been previously used in Australia, and translated versions of the SSOSH have been used in Brazil, Taiwan, and Turkey. In these international samples, the translated SSOSH scores have reported internal consistency estimates between .73 and .88 (Baptista & Zanon, 2016; Griffiths, Mond, Murray, & Touyz, 2015; Topkaya, 2011a; Vogel, Armstrong, et al, 2013). In the current study, the SSOSH was translated for use in Hong Kong, Portugal, Romania, and the UAE.…”

“…In previous samples, SSRPH scores have reported internal consistency estimates of .73 in the U.S. (Komiya et al, 2000). Previously translated versions of the SSRPH have been used in Brazil, Taiwan, Turkey, and the UAE, with scores demonstrating internal consistency estimates between .70 to .80 in other countries (Baptista & Zanon, 2016; Heath et al, 2016; Shea & Yeh, 2008; Topkaya, 2011b, 2015). In the current study, the SSRPH was translated for use in Hong Kong, Portugal, and Romania.…”

Coronavirus Awareness and Mental Health: Clinical Symptoms and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help

“…Translated to our study, this can signify that respondents with high Immunity Perception scores do not feel the need to seek psychological attention. However, given the small determinant coefficients of the results, other variables besides the presence of psychological symptoms should be considered to understand people's attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (Nunes Baptista and Zanon, 2017).…”

An Investigation of Cyberloafing in Relation to Coping Styles and Psychological Symptoms in an Educational Setting

“…Similarly, lower levels of self-esteem and the use of escape-avoidance coping are associated with higher levels of psychological symptoms (Sinha & Watson, 2007). Moreover, depression symptoms, anxiety, and stress-related problems are reported as reasons for seeking therapy for college students (Baptista & Zanon, 2017). Based on the aforementioned findings indicating links between (non)adaptive coping strategies and psychological outcomes, the following hypotheses were generated:…”