Orientations to seeking professional help: Development and research utility of an attitude scale

Abstract

Developed and standardized a measure of attitudes toward seeking professional help for psychological disturbances. The scale reliably distinguished persons who had experienced psychotherapeutic help from those without such professional contact (p < .0001). Women's help-seeking attitudes were consistently more positive than men's (p < .0001). Factor analyses were conducted on 3 independent samples and revealed 4 dimensions of the attitude: recognition of need for psychological help, stigma tolerance, interpersonal openness, and confidence in mental health professionals. Authoritarianism and internal vs. external locus of control variables correlated predictably to attitude scores for both sexes. Need for approval and interpersonal trust measures correlated significantly with males' attitudes. A masculinity test had no correspondence to attitude scores within either female or male samples. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1970 American Psychological Association.