Jin E. Kim|Nolan Zane
Help-seeking intentions among Asian American and White American students in psychological distress: Application of the health belief model.
University of California, Davis|University of California, Davis
underutilization needed mental health services continues major mental health disparity affecting asian americans sue cheng saad chu 2012 goal study apply social psychological theoretical frameworkthe health belief model rosenstock 1966to understand potential reasons asian americans underutilize mental health services relative white americansusing crosssectional online questionnaire study examined perceived severity symptoms perceived susceptibility mental health problems perceived benefits treatment perceived barriers treatment influenced intentions seek help among sample 395 asian american 261 white american students experiencing elevated levels psychological distressanalyses using structural equation modeling indicated asian americans distress relatively lower intentions seek help compared white americans perceived benefits partially accounted differences helpseeking intentions although asian americans perceived greater barriers help seeking white americans significantly explain racialethnic differences helpseeking intentions perceived severity barriers related helpseeking intentions groupsoutreach efforts particularly emphasize benefits seeking mental health services may particularly promising approach address underutilization findings implications helpseeking promotion outreach psycinfo database record