scholarly journals An Exploratory Study of Attitudes Toward Psychological Help Seeking Among African American Men

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Cadaret ◽  
Suzette L. Speight

Disparities in health care are a significant social problem affecting millions of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. To better understand these disparities, the current study explored the relationship between self- and social stigma, John Henryism, hardiness, and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help in a community sample of 120 Black men ( Mage = 42.72 years, SD = 13.26). Additionally, participants completed measures of potential covariates, which included occupation, highest education, and income. Results suggest that self-stigma is a major deterrent to seeking help for psychological issues. This relationship is moderated by both age and occupation. Hardiness negatively influenced self-stigma for help seeking and had a positive indirect influence on attitudes toward help seeking. Findings support previous research on help-seeking attitudes among African American men and suggest that personal characteristics, such as age, occupation, and coping style can influence help-seeking behaviors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 438-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munyi Shea ◽  
Y. Joel Wong ◽  
Kimmy K. Nguyen ◽  
Serani Baghdasarian

Female gender has been consistently associated with positive psychological help-seeking attitudes and behaviors; however, surprisingly few empirical studies have examined how femininity-related variables impact women’s help-seeking decision making. Informed by the theory of reasoned action (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980), the purpose of this study was (a) to investigate the associations between two femininity constructs—subjective femininity stress and gender solidarity—and psychological help-seeking intention, and (b) to explore the mediating roles of help-seeking attitudes and social stigma using structural equation modeling. Participants were 451 college-enrolled women in Southern California. Results revealed that all the mediation relationships involving help-seeking attitudes and stigma were significant. Subjective femininity stress was positively related to help-seeking intention via help-seeking attitudes, but was negatively related to intention via social stigma. Gender solidarity was positively related to help-seeking intention via positive attitudes and reduced social stigma. Implications for future research, prevention programs, and practice are discussed.


2016 ◽  
pp. 1368-1386
Author(s):  
Susan Boafo-Arthur ◽  
Ama Boafo-Arthur

International students' pursuit of education in the United States (US) is mutually beneficial to both international students and the economy of the United States. Students often experience culture shock or transitional stress upon arrival. Despite these challenges, research indicates that international students are not likely to seek professional counseling to manage or resolve their issues. In the event that they seek help they are known to prefer medical instead of psychological help. Authors in this chapter review the influence of stigma and acculturational variables on help seeking behaviors of international students. The authors also discuss implications for international students and institutions of higher education, and conclude with recommendations that may be beneficial to international students, student counseling services, and institutions of higher education in the United States.


Author(s):  
Susan Boafo-Arthur ◽  
Ama Boafo-Arthur

International students' pursuit of education in the United States (US) is mutually beneficial to both international students and the economy of the United States. Students often experience culture shock or transitional stress upon arrival. Despite these challenges, research indicates that international students are not likely to seek professional counseling to manage or resolve their issues. In the event that they seek help they are known to prefer medical instead of psychological help. Authors in this chapter review the influence of stigma and acculturational variables on help seeking behaviors of international students. The authors also discuss implications for international students and institutions of higher education, and conclude with recommendations that may be beneficial to international students, student counseling services, and institutions of higher education in the United States.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. Blake ◽  
Gloria A. Jones Taylor ◽  
Richard L. Sowell

The HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) epidemic in the United States remains a serious public health concern. Despite treatment and prevention efforts, approximately 50,000 new HIV cases are transmitted each year. Estimates indicate that 44% of all people diagnosed with HIV are living in the southern region of the United States. African Americans represent 13.2% of the United States population; however, 44% (19,540) of reported new HIV cases in 2014 were diagnosed within this ethnic group. The majority of cases were diagnosed in men (73%, 14,305). In the United States, it is estimated that 21% of adults living with HIV are 50 years or older. There exists limited data regarding how well African American men are aging with HIV disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of older African American men living with HIV in rural Georgia. Data were collected from 35 older African American men living with HIV using focus groups and face-to-face personal interviews. Qualitative content analysis revealed six overlapping themes: (1) Stigma; (2) Doing Fine, Most of the Time; (3) Coping With Age-Related Diseases and HIV; (4) Self-Care; (5) Family Support; and (6) Access to Resources. The findings from this study provide new insights into the lives of rural HIV-infected African American men, expands our understanding of how they manage the disease, and why many return to or remain in rural communities.


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