Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help: Adaptation and Evaluation of ATSPPH-SF using the Rasch Model

The availability of instruments for seeking professional help is crucial in identifying potential delays and failures to seek mental health help. The current study aims to adapt an Indonesian version of the Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF) scale and evaluate its psychometric properties using a Rasch modeling approach. Adaptation of the Indonesian scale was carried out in collaboration with a panel of experts under the guidelines of the International Translating Commission. The psychometric evaluation involved 951 respondents (M = 243, F = 708) who participated through an online survey. The results of the Rasch modeling showed that the items of the Indonesian ATSPPH-SF had a good fit with the model. The response categories worked well and reliability was sufficient (item=1, respondent=.59, Cronbach's alpha=.67). This paper highlighted that the ATSPPH-SF Indonesia version is suggested to be valid and reliable. We concluded that ATSPPH-SF can be used in mental health professional help-seeking research in Indonesia.

Структурно-содержательные характеристики социальных представлений студентов о психологической помощи

Введение. Актуальность исследования обусловлена потребностью населения в разрешении проблем и одновременно наличием предубеждений и низкой информированностью о возможностях психологической помощи. Основу исследования составила концепция социальных представлений С. Московичи; с применением структурного подхода впервые определены структурно-содержательные характеристики представлений о психологической помощи у студентов. Методы. Выборку исследования составили 498 студентов московских вузов (17–25 лет) и 50 респондентов зрелого возраста (33–55 лет). Для анализа отношения к психологической помощи использовалась авторская анкета; уровень готовности к получению помощи психолога определялся посредством опросника Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (E. H. Fischer, A. Farina), адаптированного для российской выборки. Для систематизации данных применены контент-анализ, прототипический анализ Вержеса, методы математической статистики. Результаты. Ядро представлений о психологической помощи составляют такие ассоциации, как «помощь», «поддержка», «разговор», «спасение»; в периферию входят «понимание», «совет», «психолог», «лечение/терапия» (первая периферическая зона), а также «выход», «обман», «решение проблем», «облегчение» (вторая периферическая зона). Контент-анализ позволил объединить всё содержимое ядра и периферии в четыре блока: «облегчение состояния», «проблемы», «поддержка», «взаимодействие». Обсуждение результатов. Уровень готовности к обращению за психологической помощью у девушек значительно выше, чем у юношей, при этом доверие к помощи у женщин в целом выше, независимо от возраста. Студенты меньше, чем люди более зрелого возраста, ориентированы на поиск поддержки у специалиста. Наиболее значимыми критериями в выборе психолога являются применяемые им методы, стаж и возраст. Заключение. Позитивные представления студентов о психологической помощи проявляются, прежде всего, как возможность получения поддержки и облегчения эмоционального состояния. Повышение уровня доверия населения к специалистам-психологам будет способствовать поддержанию психологического благополучия и полноценной интеграции молодежи в систему оказания психологической помощи.

Perceived Social Support and Well-Being of International Students at an Italian University

The present study aimed to explore international students’ well-being in relation to their perception of social support and dispersion of dependency on various resources. Participants were 139 international students at an Italian university who completed the WHO-5 Well-being Index, Symptom Checklist 90-R, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Dependency Grids. Results showed that higher well-being correlated with higher support and lower distress and that higher dispersion of dependency was associated with higher perceived support. International students who sought professional psychological help also reported lower well-being, higher distress, and fewer resources compared to those who did not seek psychological support. Furthermore, coming from collectivist cultures (rather than individualist ones) as well as being a long-term (rather than short-term) student was mostly associated with higher distress and less perceived support. These results suggest that counselling services for international students should help them find new sources of social support.

Profil Sikap Mencari Bantuan Layanan Psikologis pada Mahasiswa

The results of a survey by the Indonesian Psychology Student Association (ILMPI) show that students still do not understand the meaning of mental health services. Meanwhile, the results of the 2018 Basic Health Research stated that handling mental health is as important as physical health. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research to get a picture of the attitudes of students in seeking psychological assistance in colleges. This mixed methods research was conducted at the University of Al Azhar Indonesia (UAI). Quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire on the attitude of seeking professional psychological assistance to 180 students, while the qualitative data were obtained using semi-open interviews with 12 students via telephone. The results showed that the students’ attitudes tended to be neutral in seeking psychological help; students are even less familiar with the existence of psychological services and have a negative stigma against psychological services, and the psychological service campaign that has been carried out is ineffective. In order to create students who are healthy physically and mentally, therefore, this article suggests some points. First, as mandated by Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2014 concerning Mental Health, derivative regulations must be made at the level of ministerial regulation which mandates that universities should develop a strategy for the implementation of sustainable, implementative, comprehensive, and integrated youth psychological service units in universities. Second, Commission X DPR RI should oversee the process of forming these derivative regulations and supervise their implementation. AbstrakHasil survei Ikatan Lembaga Mahasiswa Psikologi Indonesia (ILMPI) menunjukkan bahwa mayoritas mahasiswa masih tidak memahami maksud dari layanan kesehatan mental. Sementara hasil Riset Kesehatan Dasar tahun 2018 menyatakan bahwa penanganan kesehatan mental sama pentingnya dengan kesehatan fisik. Oleh karena itu, perlu dilakukan penelitian untuk mendapatkan gambaran tentang sikap mahasiswa dalam mencari bantuan psikologis pada perguruan tinggi. Penelitian mixed method ini dilakukan di Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia (UAI). Pengumpulan data kuantitatif dilakukan dengan menggunakan kuesioner Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help terhadap 180 orang mahasiswa, sedangkan data kualitatif diperoleh menggunakan wawancara dengan format semi terbuka terhadap 12 orang mahasiswa via telepon. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sikap mahasiswa cenderung netral dalam mencari bantuan psikologis; mahasiswa bahkan kurang familiar dengan keberadaan layanan psikologis, dan memiliki stigma negatif terhadap layanan psikologis; dan belum efektifnya kampanye layanan psikologis yang telah dilakukan. Demi tercapainya mahasiswa yang sehat fisik dan mental maka artikel ini menyarankan beberapa hal. Pertama, amanat Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 18 tahun 2014 tentang Kesehatan Jiwa harus dibuatkan peraturan turunan pada tingkat penyelenggaraan universitas melalui peraturan menteri yang menangani pendidikan tinggi, yang di dalamnya mengamanatkan agar universitas menyusun strategi penyelenggaraan unit layanan psikologis remaja yang berkesinambungan, implementatif, komprehensif, dan terintegrasi dengan sumber-sumber dukungan yang dimiliki oleh perguruan tinggi. Kedua, Komisi X DPR RI sebaiknya mengawal proses pembentukan aturan turunan tersebut dan mengawasi pelaksanaannya.

PSYCHOEMOTIONAL STATE OF KAZNMU STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

В данной статье оценивается психоэмоциональное состояние студентов бакалавриата КазНМУ в условиях пандемии COVID-19, основанное на анкетировании. В исследовании приняли участие 490 человек: 370 человек (75,5%) со школы общей медицины, со школы общественного здравоохранения - 77 (15,7%), со школы педиатрии - 43 человека (8,8%). Была выявлена зависимость уровней депрессии и тревоги от таких показателей, как беспокойство за свое здоровье и здоровье своих близких, беспокойство за свою успеваемость и чувство возросшей учебной нагрузки, трудности с концентрацией при учебе, ощущение социальной изоляции и наличие финансовых трудностей. В то же время демографические показатели не влияли на выраженность депрессии и тревоги у студентов. При анализе методов борьбы с психоэмоциональным стрессом никто из ответивших не сказал об обращении за профессиональной психологической помощью в условиях пандемии, в связи с чем основной рекомендацией данной работы было посещение психолога. This article assesses the psycho-emotional state of undergraduate students of KazNMU in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a questionnaire. The study involved 490 people: 370 people (75.5%) from the school of general medicine, from the school of public health - 77 (15.7%), from the school of pediatrics - 43 (8.8%). Depression and anxiety levels were found to be dependent on such indicators as concern for their health and the health of their loved ones, anxiety for their academic performance and a feeling of increased workload, difficulty concentrating while studying, feeling socially isolated and having financial difficulties. At the same time, demographic indicators did not affect the severity of depression and anxiety in students. When analyzing methods of dealing with psycho-emotional stress, none of the respondents said about seeking professional psychological help in a pandemic, and therefore the main recommendation of this work was to visit a psychologist.

The Relationship of University Students' Professional Psychological Help-Seeking Attitudes with their Attachment Styles and Personality Traits

University years can be perceived by a young adult as a complex time involving many changes. In this period, the individual encounters various problems that s/he needs to overcome. Since young people are not always able to solve their problems on their own in this critical period, they seek professional help. There are many individual and environmental variables that affect university students' attitudes of seeking professional psychological help. The present study investigated the relationships between university students' attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help, their attachment styles, and personality traits. The study group consisted of 786 university students, of whom 441 were female, 320 were male, and 25 declined to state gender. Demographic Information Form, Attitudes Towards Seeking Psychological Help Scale-S, Relationship Scales Questionnaire and Adjective-Based Personality Test were administered to the participants. The obtained data were analyzed by using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis techniques. The results of the analyses showed that the attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help positively and significantly correlated with the secure attachment style, while it significantly but negatively correlated with the preoccupied attachment style. The attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help also showed a significant correlation with the traits of extraversion, openness, good-temper, and responsibility.

Coronavirus Awareness and Mental Health: Clinical Symptoms and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help

The current study analyzed the relationship between Coronavirus (COVID-19) Awareness, mental health, and willingness to seek professional psychological help. This was made through a quantitative approach, using online questionnaires to collect data from 855 subjects. The questionnaires included the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-53) to measure mental health indicators, the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale–Short Form, and the Coronavirus Awareness Scale-10 (CAS-10). An Exploratory Factor Analysis suggests that three factors underlie the CAS-10: Coronavirus Concern, Exaggerated Perception, and Immunity Perception. Results indicate a significant positive correlation between Coronavirus Concern and both general anxiety and phobic anxiety symptoms. Immunity Perception is positively related to paranoid ideation and psychotic symptoms. A Mediation Analysis determined that Coronavirus Concern has a significant positive direct effect on Openness to Seeking Psychological Treatment (OSPT), while Exaggerated Perception and Immunity Perception scores have significant direct negative effects on the Value and Need in Seeking Treatment (VNST) scores. Indirectly, the relationship between Coronavirus Concern and OPST is significantly mediated by anxiety symptoms. Similar results were found for the VNST subscale. There is a negative significant effect of Immunity Perception over OSPT mediated by Paranoid Ideation. However, the overall model only achieved small r2 coefficients for the OSPT (0.060) and VNST (0.095) scores. Comparisons in Coronavirus Awareness between sex, age, and the presence of children and older adults at home were also made. These results are discussed regarding their practical implications for mental health providers and policymakers.

ADAPTABILITY DYNAMICS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCE LIFE-CHANGING EVENTS IN THE PROCESS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRECTION

Исследована проблема адаптивности личности к изменившимся условиям жизни вследствие переломных событий. Измерены такие показатели адаптивности, как «поведенческая регуляция», «коммуникативные способности», «моральная нормативность». Индикаторами адаптивности выступили «сопротивляемость стрессу», «депрессивные состояния», «тревога», «копинги». В качестве способа активизации адаптивности реализована программа психологической коррекции. В исследовании приняли участие две группы респондентов. Одна группа – в долгосрочной программе психологической коррекции, представители другой предпочли справляться с последствиями переломных жизненных событий без профессиональной психологической помощи. Психодиагностические процедуры осуществлялись в обеих группах в два этапа. На первом этапе в каждой группе была проведена диагностика адаптивности и индикаторов адаптивности. Второй этап психодиагностических замеров осуществлялся после того, как участники психокоррекционной программы завершили свою работу. Динамика адаптивности фиксировалась посредством сопоставления результатов замеров первого и второго этапа друг с другом в каждой из групп. Установлено, что в результате психокоррекционной работы происходит формирование новых адаптивных моделей функционирования человека, столкнувшегося с переломным событием. Снижается уровень тревоги и тяжесть депрессивных состояний, растет личностный адаптационный потенциал и сопротивляемость стрессу, активируются конструктивные способы совладающего поведения. Выявлен психологический феномен разнополюсной взаимосвязи адаптивности мужчин и женщин, переживающих последствия переломных событий, с их нервно-психической устойчивостью, депрессивными тенденциями и тревогой. В процессе психокоррекционной работы формируется установка на активное преодоление переломных событий и совладание с их негативными последствиями, активизируются стратегии проактивного копинга, направленные на активное целеполагание, привлечение социальных ресурсов для получения поддержки и разрешения сложившихся проблемных жизненных ситуаций. The problem of the individual’s adaptability to the changed life conditions as a result of the life-changing events is considered in the article. The measures of adaptability are the following: “behavioral regulation”, “communicative skills”, “moral normativity”. The indicators of adaptability are “resistance to stress”, “depression”, “anxiety”, “copings”. As a way to activate adaptability the programme of psychological correction is actualized. Two groups of respondents took part in the study. Representatives of one group participated in a long-term psychological correction programme. Representatives of another group preferred to cope with the consequences of life-changing events without professional psychological help. Psychodiagnostic procedures was put into practice in both groups in two stages. At the first stage each group was diagnosed on adaptability and indicators of adaptability. The second stage of psychodiagnostic measurements was in each group after the respondents of psychocorrection programme completed their work. The dynamics of adaptability was recorded by comparing the results of the first and second stage measurements in each group. It is established that as a result of psychocorrection new adaptive models of person’s functioning who faced a life-changing event are formed. The level of anxiety and severity of depressive states decreases, the personal adaptive potential and resistence to stress increases, constructive ways of coping behaviour are activated. The psychological phenomenon of the multipolar connection between men’s and women’s adaptability experiencing the consequences of life-changing events with their neuropsychiatric stability, depressive tendencies and anxiety is found. In the process of psychocorrection work, an attitude is formed to actively overcome critical events and cope with their negative consequences, proactive coping strategies are activated, aimed at active goal-setting, attracting social resources to receive support and resolve existing problematic life situations.