Age differences in public stigma, self‐stigma, and attitudes toward seeking help: A moderated mediation model

Abstract

Objective Stigma is commonly identified as a key reason that older adults are especially unlikely to seek mental health services, although few studies have tested this assumption. Our objectives were to: (a) examine age differences in public and self‐stigma of seeking help, and attitudes toward seeking help, and (b) see whether age moderates an internalized stigma of seeking help model. Methods A total of 5,712 Canadians ranging in age from 18 to 101 completed self‐report measures of public stigma of seeking help, self‐stigma of seeking help, and help‐seeking attitudes. Results Older participants had the lowest levels of stigma and the most positive help‐seeking attitudes. Age also moderated the mediation model, such that the indirect effect of public stigma on help‐seeking attitudes through self‐stigma was strongest for older participants. Conclusion Our findings have implications for the influence of stigma and attitudes as barriers to treatment across the adult lifespan, and for stigma reduction interventions.

Predictors of help-seeking behaviour in people with mental health problems: a 3-year prospective community study

“…Furthermore, it supported the negative effect of anticipated stigma on help-seeking for mental health problems [ 11 ]. With regard to age, the reported association of older age with help-seeking [ 6 , 7 , 9 ] was not supported by our study, in which the contrary effect, an association with younger age, was found. Other direct effects on help-seeking reported from cross-sectional studies could not be replicated longitudinally, such as the help-seeking reducing effect of perceived and personal stigma [ 3 , 13 , 22 ], which also did not show on the level of bivariate correlations, or the help-seeking increasing effect of earlier help-seeking intentions [ 13 , 23 , 24 ], and of female sex [ 6 , 8 ].…”

“…Based on the results of the PCA and previous studies, we formed one latent variable for 'perceived stigma'. The variables 'WSD' [19], 'help-seeking intention' [13,23,24], 'anticipated stigma [11], 'age' [7], 'sex' [30], 'functional deficit' [9], 'help-seeking at baseline' [9,10,13] were modelled as observed variables. The pathways from stigma via own help-seeking assumptions (i.e., help-seeking intentions) to help-seeking behaviour including all likely associations between latent and manifest variables were modelled in a SEM.…”

“…friends) [ 5 ]. HSmental is predicted by different sociodemographic factors, such as older age [ 6 , 7 ], female sex [ 6 , 8 ], and lack of a current partner [ 9 ]. In addition, former positive help-seeking experiences [ 10 ], and more severe functional impairments [ 9 ], were positively correlated with HSmental.…”

“… Compared to male sex, female sex is more positively associated with HSmental [ 6 , 30 ]. Older age is positively associated with HSmental [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]. …”

Community support groups for men living with depression: barriers and facilitators in access and engagement with services

“…Stigma was also highlighted as a common barrier, primarily in older individuals. This is contradictory with previous findings from studies in Canada which suggest that stigma decreases and positive attitudes to helpseeking increase with age (Mackenzie, Gekoski, & Knox, 2006;Mackenzie et al, 2019), indicating potential differences across countries regarding social norms and the way in which stigma is experienced (Wester, 2008). These differences have not been accounted for in the literature and require further investigation.…”