The Roles of Seeking Psychological Help, Self-stigma and Self-construal in Prediction of Attitudes towards Seeking Psychological Help

Abstract

In this study, the purpose is to examine to what extent the individuals’ self-stigma and self-construal predict their attitudes towards seeking psychological help. The sample group of the study was made of 377 adults aged 20-50 years. The data obtained from the scales based on self-reports of the participants were analyzed. Findings showed that there is a positive significant relationship between the attitude towards seeking psychological help and self-stigma. Self-stigma positively predicted the attitudes towards seeking psychological help; on the other hand, individual self-construal negatively predicted the attitudes towards seeking psychological help. In light of these findings, it is recommended that comparative studies in terms of self-stigma and self-construal according to gender can be conducted with different socio-cultural characteristics. Also, the persons of who have received or applied to counseling from psychological counseling centers, their self-stigma and self-construals levels can be investigated in later studies.