Examining Generation, Gender, and Race Centrality as Predictors of Stigma and Help-seeking Attitudes in African American Adults

Search for this publication on Google Scholar
Jean-Philippe, S. (2022). Examining Generation, Gender, and Race Centrality as Predictors of Stigma and Help-seeking Attitudes in African American Adults. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
Download PDF

Analytics

33 views ◎
10 downloads ⇓


Abstract

Despite being more likely to encounter, endure, and report higher levels of distress, African Americans are less likely to seek and persist with mental health services. Similarly, African Americans are more likely to report negative attitudes toward help-seeking. Of the numerous barriers influencing negative attitudes, mental health stigma is identified as the most significant barrier. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may influence attitudes towards seeking psychological help in African American adults. More specifically, the study investigated if, and to what extent, a relationship existed between help-seeking attitudes and three subtypes of stigma (public, social, and self). In addition to this, the study also explored the moderating effect of generation, gender and race centrality. A total sample of 190 African American participants were recruited from across the United States and completed an online survey involving self-report questions. An OLS multiple linear regression analysis was utilized. The results indicated that two of the three types of stigma significantly predicted help-seeking attitudes. The relationship between stigma and mental health seeking attitudes was also found to be moderated by gender on two of the three stigma scales. Implications of this study includes broaching conversations about mental health stigma, designing psychoeducational and outreach programs focusing on the destigmatizing of mental health treatment and the increase of mental health literacy as a means of promoting positive help seeking attitudes, and remedying the current practice of offering a single course in multicultural counseling. These results offer an empirical base for further exploration.

Details
Author

Jean-Philippe, Sara

Title

Examining Generation, Gender, and Race Centrality as Predictors of Stigma and Help-seeking Attitudes in African American Adults

Physical Description

1 online resource (147 pages) : PDF

Date

2022

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Despite being more likely to encounter, endure, and report higher levels of distress, African Americans are less likely to seek and persist with mental health services. Similarly, African Americans are more likely to report negative attitudes toward help-seeking. Of the numerous barriers influencing negative attitudes, mental health stigma is identified as the most significant barrier. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that may influence attitudes towards seeking psychological help in African American adults. More specifically, the study investigated if, and to what extent, a relationship existed between help-seeking attitudes and three subtypes of stigma (public, social, and self). In addition to this, the study also explored the moderating effect of generation, gender and race centrality. A total sample of 190 African American participants were recruited from across the United States and completed an online survey involving self-report questions. An OLS multiple linear regression analysis was utilized. The results indicated that two of the three types of stigma significantly predicted help-seeking attitudes. The relationship between stigma and mental health seeking attitudes was also found to be moderated by gender on two of the three stigma scales. Implications of this study includes broaching conversations about mental health stigma, designing psychoeducational and outreach programs focusing on the destigmatizing of mental health treatment and the increase of mental health literacy as a means of promoting positive help seeking attitudes, and remedying the current practice of offering a single course in multicultural counseling. These results offer an empirical base for further exploration.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Continuing education
Counseling psychology

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

African Americans
Help-Seeking Attitudes
Stigma

Subject Area

Counseling

Advisor(s)

Merlin-Knoblich, Clare

Committee Members

Abrams, Lyndon
Haynes, Tabitha
Newton, Xiaoxia

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2022.

Rights Statement

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

JeanPhilippe_uncc_0694D_13219

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:3185