Do Help-Seeking Intentions During Early Adolescence Vary for Adolescents Experiencing Different Levels of Depressive Symptoms?

BackgroundMany people suffering from mental disorders do not seek appropriate help. We have examined attitudes that further or hinder help-seeking for depression with an established socio-psychological model, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), comparing models for respondents with and without depressive symptoms.MethodA qualitative preparatory study (n=29) elicited salient behavioural (BB), normative (NB) and control beliefs (CB) that were later included in the TPB questionnaire. Telephone interviews with a representative population sample in Germany (n=2303) started with a labelled vignette describing symptoms of a major depression, followed by items covering the components of the TPB. Intention to see a psychiatrist for the problem described was elicited at the beginning and at the end of the interview. We screened participants for current depressive symptoms using the mood subscale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).ResultsIn non-depressed respondents (n=2167), a TPB path model predicted 42% of the variance for the first and 51% for the second question on intention. In an analogous model for depressed respondents (n=136), these values increased to 50% and 61% respectively. Path coefficients in both models were similar. In both depressed and non-depressed persons, attitude towards the behaviour was more important than the subjective norm, whereas perceived behavioural control was of minor influence.ConclusionsWillingness to seek psychiatric help for depression can largely be explained by a set of attitudes and beliefs as conceptualized by the TPB. Our findings suggest that changing attitudes in the general population are likely to effect help-seeking when people experience depressive symptoms.

Download Full-text

The utility of the health belief model variables in predicting help-seeking intention for depressive symptoms

Australian Psychologist ◽

10.1080/00050067.2021.1893598 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Emma L. Langley ◽

Gavin Clark ◽

Clara Murray ◽

Bethany M. Wootton

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Health Belief Model ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Health Belief ◽

Belief Model ◽

The Health Belief Model

Download Full-text

Language Proficiency and Migrant–Native Disparities in Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094782 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4782

Author(s):

Sousan Hamwi ◽

Elsa Lorthe ◽

Henrique Barros

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Language Proficiency ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Migrant Women ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Native Women ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Migrant women have a higher risk of developing postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) than do native women. This study aimed to investigate the role of host-country language proficiency in this disparity. We analysed the data of 1475 migrant and 1415 native women who gave birth at a Portuguese public hospital between 2017 and 2019 and were participants in the baMBINO cohort study. Migrants’ language proficiency was self-rated and comprised understanding, speaking, reading, and writing skills. PPDS were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with a cut-off score of ≥10. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the association between language proficiency and PPDS. PPDS were experienced by 7.2% of native women and 12.4% among migrants (p < 0.001). Increasing proportions of PPDS were observed among decreasing Portuguese proficiency levels; 11% among full, 13% among intermediate, and 18% among limited proficiency women (ptrend < 0.001). Full (aOR 1.63 (95% CI 1.21–2.19)), intermediate (aOR 1.68 (95% CI 1.16–2.42)), and limited (aOR 2.55 (95% CI 1.64–3.99)) language proficiencies were associated with increasingly higher odds of PPDS among migrant women, compared to native proficiency. Prevention measures should target migrant women at high risk of PPDS, namely those with limited language skills, and promote awareness, early detection, and help-seeking, in addition to facilitating communication in their perinatal healthcare encounters.

Download Full-text

Temperament, Repetitive Negative Thinking, and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescence: a Prospective Study

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10862-017-9624-8 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 305-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Patricia Bijttebier ◽

Margot Bastin ◽

Sabine Nelis ◽

Sofie Weyn ◽

Koen Luyckx ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Early Adolescence ◽

Repetitive Negative Thinking ◽

Negative Thinking ◽

A Prospective Study

Download Full-text

Depressive Symptoms, Help-Seeking, and Barriers to Mental Healthcare Among Healthcare Professionals in Lithuania

Acta medica Lituanica ◽

10.15388/amed.2020.28.1.3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 3

Author(s):

Daniel Rogoža ◽

Robertas Strumila ◽

Eglė Klivickaitė ◽

Edgaras Diržius ◽

Neringa Čėnaitė

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Mental Healthcare ◽

Health Problems ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Work Related ◽

Patient Health

Background: Previous research suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience high levels of work-related psychological distress, including depressive symptoms. Due to the stigma of mental health problems and other barriers, HCPs are likely to be hesitant to seek appropriate mental healthcare. We aimed to explore these phenomena among HCPs in Lithuania.Methods: A web survey inquiring about depressive symptoms, help-seeking, and barriers to mental healthcare was conducted. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). 601 complete questionnaires were included in the analyses. The barriers to help-seeking were identified using the inductive content analysis approach. Descriptive, non-parametric, and robust statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.Results: Most of the respondents have reported depression-like symptoms over the lifetime, although only about a third of them sought professional help. Of those, roughly half preferred a private specialist. The stigma and neglect of mental health problems were the most common barriers to help-seeking. Around half of the HCPs believed that seeking mental healthcare can imperil their occupational license. About a quarter of the HCPs screened positive for clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Statistically significant differences in the PHQ-9 score were found between categories of healthcare specialty, marital status, religious beliefs, workplace, and years of work as a HCP. Fewer years of work and younger age were associated with the higher PHQ-9 score.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HCPs in Lithuania may be inclined not to seek appropriate mental healthcare and experience poor mental health, although stronger evidence is needed to verify these findings.

Download Full-text