Help-Seeking Behaviour of University Students During Covid-19 Pandemic: Psychological Openness, Indifference to Stigma, Help-Seeking Propensity

Purpose Many university students in the UK experience mental health problems and little is known about their overall mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain levels of mental health literacy in UK university students and to examine whether mental health literacy is associated with better mental health outcomes and intentions to seek professional care. Design/methodology/approach A total of 380 university students at a university in the south of England completed online surveys measuring multiple dimensions of mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviour, distress, and well-being. Findings Mental health literacy in the students sampled was lower than seen in previous research. Women exhibited higher levels of mental health literacy than men and postgraduate students scored higher than undergraduate students. Participants with previous mental health problems had higher levels of mental health literacy than those with no history of mental health problems. Individuals were most likely to want to seek support from a partner or family member and most participants indicated they would be able to access mental health information online. Mental health literacy was significantly positively correlated with help-seeking behaviour, but not significantly correlated with distress or well-being. Practical implications Strategies, such as anonymous online resources, should be designed to help UK university students become more knowledgeable about mental health and comfortable with seeking appropriate support. Originality/value This study is the first to examine multiple dimensions of mental health literacy in UK university students and compare it to help-seeking behaviour, distress, and well-being.

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Experiences of Dating Violence and Help-seeking Behaviour Among Japanese First-year University Students

Japanese Journal of Health and Human Ecology ◽

10.3861/kenko.86.3_111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 86 (3) ◽

pp. 111-120

Author(s):

Haruka SHOZAKI-ITO ◽

Mayumi OHNISHI ◽

Tomoko SHIBAYAMA ◽

Yumi MATSUYAMA ◽

Rieko NAKAO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Dating Violence ◽

Help Seeking ◽

First Year ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

First Year University

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The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Italian University Students’ Mental Health: Changes across the Waves

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189897 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9897

Author(s):

Micaela Di Consiglio ◽

Sheila Merola ◽

Tiziana Pascucci ◽

Cristiano Violani ◽

Alessandro Couyoumdjian

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

University Students ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mental Health Disorder ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Paranoid Ideation ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

The University ◽

The Impact ◽

The Waves

To reduce the spread of Covid-19, the Italian government imposed a rigid lockdown and, for a whole year, continued to declare stringent rules to curb the community spread. This study provides an overview of university students’ symptomatology and help-seeking behaviour before and during the pandemic. It aims to evaluate the impact of the different phases of the pandemic on students’ mental health. We collected data in four-time points between March 2019 and March 2021. A total of 454 students (F = 85; M = 15) were included in the study. Students answered a socio-demographic and a standardized questionnaire (i.e., SCL-90-R) to evaluate a broad range of symptomatology. The results suggest that students experienced moderate to severe levels of depressive, obsessive-compulsive and anxiety symptomatology. About 14% of the sample met the criteria for at least one mental health disorder, but most were not receiving mental health care. During the lockdown, compared with other phases, female students reported worse symptoms in the obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism dimensions. The increasing symptomatology disappeared after the lifting of the lockdown. The results showed no difference in the male groups. Preventive and support strategies should be improved in the university context.

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Authoritative parenting style in relation to children's help seeking behaviour

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e573262013-049 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Said Aldhafri

Keyword(s):

Parenting Style ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Authoritative Parenting ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

Authoritative Parenting Style

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Correlates of Help-Seeking Behaviour in Adolescents Who Experience Bullying Victimisation

International Journal of Bullying Prevention ◽

10.1007/s42380-021-00090-x ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lori K. Matuschka ◽

James G. Scott ◽

Marilyn A. Campbell ◽

David Lawrence ◽

Stephen R. Zubrick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Help Seeking ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

Bullying Victimisation

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Hearing Loss and Help-Seeking Behavior

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2889 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 797-797

Author(s):

Nicholas Reed

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Health Care Quality ◽

Medicare Beneficiary ◽

Care Quality ◽

The Past ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Future Work

Abstract Hearing Loss (HL) is common among older adults and is associated with poor health care quality outcomes include 30-day readmissions, length of stay, poorer satisfaction, and increased medical expenditures. These associations may manifest in changes in help-seeking behaviour. In the 2015 Current Medicare Beneficiary Study (MCBS) (n=10848; weighted sample=46.3 million), participants reported whether they knowingly had avoided seeking care in the past year and self-reported HL was measured as degree of trouble (none, a little, or a lot) hearing when using a hearing aid if applicable. In a model adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors, those with a little trouble (OR= 1.612; 95% CI= 1.334-1.947; P<0.001) and a lot of trouble hearing (OR= 2.011; 95% CI= 1.443-2.801; P<0.001) had 61.2% and 101.1% higher odds of avoiding health care over the past year relative to participants with no trouble hearing. Future work should examine whether hearing care modifies this association.

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Psychosocial influences on help-seeking behaviour for cancer in low-income and lower middle-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004213 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. e004213

Author(s):

Grace McCutchan ◽

Bahr Weiss ◽

Harriet Quinn-Scoggins ◽

Anh Dao ◽

Tom Downs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Middle Income ◽

Cancer Symptoms ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Help Seeking Behaviour ◽

Psychosocial Influences

IntroductionStarting cancer treatment early can improve outcomes. Psychosocial factors influencing patients’ medical help-seeking decisions may be particularly important in low and lower middle-income countries (LMIC) where cancer outcomes are poor. Comprehensive review evidence is needed to understand the psychosocial influences on medical help-seeking for cancer symptoms, attendance for diagnosis and starting cancer treatment.MethodsMixed-methods systematic review registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018099057). Peer-reviewed databases were searched until April 2020 for studies assessing patient-related barriers and facilitators to medical help-seeking for cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in adults (18+ years) living in LMICs. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. Data were synthesised using meta-analytic techniques, meta-ethnography or narrative synthesis as appropriate.ResultsOf 3963 studies identified, 64 were included. In quantitative studies, use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) was associated with 3.60 higher odds of prolonged medical help-seeking (95% CI 2.06 to 5.14). Qualitative studies suggested that use of TCAM was a key barrier to medical help-seeking in LMICs, and was influenced by causal beliefs, cultural norms and a preference to avoid biomedical treatment. Women face particular barriers, such as needing family permission for help-seeking, and higher stigma for cancer treatment. Additional psychosocial barriers included: shame and stigma associated with cancer such as fear of social rejection (eg, divorce/disownment); limited knowledge of cancer and associated symptoms; and financial and access barriers associated with travel and appointments.ConclusionDue to variable quality of studies, future evaluations would benefit from using validated measures and robust study designs. The use of TCAM and gender influences appear to be important barriers to help-seeking in LMIC. Cancer awareness campaigns developed with LMIC communities need to address cultural influences on medical help-seeking behaviour.

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University students’ understanding and perceptions of schizophrenia in the UK: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025813 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. e025813

Author(s):

Charlotte Cadge ◽

Charlotte Connor ◽

Sheila Greenfield

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

University Students ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Health Campaigns ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

African Caribbean ◽

Lay Understanding ◽

The Uk ◽

The University

ObjectiveTo explore lay understanding and perceptions of schizophrenia in university students.DesignQualitative study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis.SettingThe University of Birmingham, West Midlands.Participants20 UK home students of white British (n=5), Indian (n=5), Pakistani (n=5), African Caribbean (n=4) and dual white British and African Caribbean ethnicity (n=1).ResultsFindings revealed a lack of knowledge about schizophrenia, particularly the negative symptoms that were not mentioned. There were mixed ideas on the causes and sources of available help for schizophrenia; however, positively many said they would consult their general practitioner. While there was a general misconception among the students that schizophrenia caused multiple personalities and was a dangerous illness, there were some differences in perceptions and understanding between ethnic groups, with more Indian students perceiving upbringing as a causal factor in the development of the illness and more Pakistani students perceiving possession by a spirit as a cause.ConclusionsThe university students interviewed lacked knowledge about schizophrenia and stigma was widespread, both of which may delay help-seeking. Public health campaigns educating young people about schizophrenia are required to improve early identification and intervention and improve outcomes. Further research exploring ways to effectively tackle stigma is also required.

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