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Influence of perception of problems on adolescent help-seeking behaviour
Author
Manimegalai, P
Supervisor
Lim, Kam Ming
Abstract
It has been reported that students are less likely to seek help especially formal support (such as the assistance of teachers, therapists and other forms of professional help) when they have concerns or difficulties. They tend to turn to their friends and family members for support as they seem more comfortable with informal sources of help. One possible reason for the unwillingness to seek formal help among adolescents is likely to be the loss of face (embarrassment) especially if the adolescent attributes the problem to himself or herself. On the other hand, the adolescent may be more willing to seek help if the source of difficulty is someone or something other than himself or herself.
In the present study, the types of problems (academic or non-academic) that adolescents seek help for and the nature of help (instrumental or executive) they seek for were examined. The study also examined differences in help seeking behaviour between male and female adolescents, between older and younger adolescents and between adolescents from different faculties (Arts, Commerce and Science). Factors such as stigma, self-sufficiency, perceptions of self-blame and external blame on help-seeking behaviour were also analysed in this study. A convenience sample of 127 students (63.8% female) (age ranged from 19 to 21 years old) was surveyed for this study.
The study revealed that not many students were very forthcoming with information about their help-seeking. Results revealed that students are the most willing to seek help from their family members and friends. However, if the adolescents perceive value in the therapy sessions, or believe that the sessions are kept confidential, they are more willing to seek the support of the counsellor.
Adolescent students are also willing to request the assistance of their teachers, if they face academic concerns. This result seems contradictory to previous studies which found that academically weaker students were not willing to seek help (e.g., Weiner, 1995). Interestingly, too, it was discovered that the students in this particular educational institution are willing to seek financial assistance if they were in need of such an aid.
Female students also tend to believe that they have greater support compared to male adolescents. They are also more willing to seek help. Younger females, however, seem to be more concerned about stigma associated with seeking help as compared to males. This study also revealed that the older teenagers are more willing to seek help as compared the younger teenagers.
In the present study, the types of problems (academic or non-academic) that adolescents seek help for and the nature of help (instrumental or executive) they seek for were examined. The study also examined differences in help seeking behaviour between male and female adolescents, between older and younger adolescents and between adolescents from different faculties (Arts, Commerce and Science). Factors such as stigma, self-sufficiency, perceptions of self-blame and external blame on help-seeking behaviour were also analysed in this study. A convenience sample of 127 students (63.8% female) (age ranged from 19 to 21 years old) was surveyed for this study.
The study revealed that not many students were very forthcoming with information about their help-seeking. Results revealed that students are the most willing to seek help from their family members and friends. However, if the adolescents perceive value in the therapy sessions, or believe that the sessions are kept confidential, they are more willing to seek the support of the counsellor.
Adolescent students are also willing to request the assistance of their teachers, if they face academic concerns. This result seems contradictory to previous studies which found that academically weaker students were not willing to seek help (e.g., Weiner, 1995). Interestingly, too, it was discovered that the students in this particular educational institution are willing to seek financial assistance if they were in need of such an aid.
Female students also tend to believe that they have greater support compared to male adolescents. They are also more willing to seek help. Younger females, however, seem to be more concerned about stigma associated with seeking help as compared to males. This study also revealed that the older teenagers are more willing to seek help as compared the younger teenagers.
Date Issued
2007
Call Number
HM1141 Man
Date Submitted
2007