The Effects of Stigma on Determinants of Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Male College Students: An Application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model

Abstract

Considered a public health issue, the prevalence and severity of poor mental well-being on college campuses has continued to rise. While many college campuses offer mental health counseling services, and utilization rates are increasing, their proportional usage is low especially among males, who often deal with poor mental well-being by adopting unhealthy coping strategies. The purpose of this study was to use the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model to assess the relationship between the determinants as factors that may impact help-seeking behaviors in a large sample (n = 1,242) of male college students. Employing a cross-sectional study design, a 71-item online survey assessed information via total mental health literacy (MHL), motivation via attitudes toward mental health and subjective norms regarding mental health, and behavioral skills via intentions regarding help-seeking behaviors, and stigma. Results revealed correlations between information and motivation (r = .363, p < .01), information and behavioral skills (r = .166, p < .01), and motivation and behavioral skills (r = .399, p < .01). Multiple regression was used to determine stigma is a mediator for all relationships. These findings represent an opportunity to take a public health approach to male mental health through developing multilayered interventions that address information, motivation, behavioral skills, and stigma.

Readiness to change and barriers to treatment seeking in college students with a mental disorder

“…It would appear that, students do not perceive the benefits of professional help for their difficulties as outweighing the perceived costs or perceived barriers of receiving treatment, considering self-management to be sufficient. Comparable findings were reported by DeBate et al (2018). Applying the Information Motivation Behavioural skills model as a theoretical framework, help-seeking by male college students was underpinned by information and motivation (DeBate et al, 2018).…”

“…Comparable findings were reported by DeBate et al (2018). Applying the Information Motivation Behavioural skills model as a theoretical framework, help-seeking by male college students was underpinned by information and motivation (DeBate et al, 2018). The research above goes some way towards informing effective interventions through a clearer understanding of why high-risk college students do not seek treatment (Czyz et al, 2013, DeBate et al, 2018.…”

“…Applying the Information Motivation Behavioural skills model as a theoretical framework, help-seeking by male college students was underpinned by information and motivation (DeBate et al, 2018). The research above goes some way towards informing effective interventions through a clearer understanding of why high-risk college students do not seek treatment (Czyz et al, 2013, DeBate et al, 2018. However, Czyz et al (2013) acknowledge themselves that their findings require replication before they can be generalized to other college settings.…”

“…The second is by examining group differences in how the barriers are rated in terms of the presence or absence of STBs, in addition to gender differences as initially documented by Czyz et al (2013). Consideration of gender is important because males typically have lower levels of help-seeking intentions and behaviours (Czyz et al, 2013, DeBate et al, 2018, Zochil et al, 2018.…”

Exploring Preference to Avoid or Seek Help in Person and Online Among College Students with Suicidal Ideation

“…Furthermore, we found that suicidal ideation was associated with help-negation in men in general. This phenomenon has been explored in previous studies, pointing to explanatory factors such as masculinity (Seidler et al, 2016), stigma (DeBate, Gatto, & Rafal, 2018), and general embarrassment and anxiety about the help-seeking process (Yousaf, Grunfeld, & Hunter, 2015) as reasons that men tend to delay or avoid help. Encouragingly, preliminary research shows initial promise for gendered-based motivational interviewing to increase help-seeking behavior in men (Syzdek, Green, Lindgren, & Addis, 2016), and these strategies could be implemented by gatekeepers not traditionally associated with mental health, such as primary care doctors or college advisors.…”