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An examination of factors influencing the help-seeking attitudes of Singapore adolescents
Author
Tan, Sulin
Supervisor
Chong, Wan Har
Abstract
The current study aims to provide insight into the factors that influence the professional psychological help-seeking attitudes of Singapore secondary school students.
The sociopsychological variables of anticipated utility, self-disclosure, stigma, social support and social norm, together with other variables such as nature of problem, previous counselling experience and perceived behavioural control are examined for their relationship with the help-seeking attitudes of Singapore adolescents.
1871 students from the secondary one to five levels in four mainstream secondary schools participated in the study. They were administered a self-report questionnaire that involved rating on a five-point Likert-type scale, their thoughts about seeking help from a professional counsellor. The students were administered the questionnaire in their school during the post-examination period in May 2009.
The findings suggest that higher levels of anticipated utility, social norm and selfdisclosure, and lower levels of social stigma and social support contributed to more favourable attitudes towards seeking professional help. Additionally, type of problem and perceived behavioural control were found to have some effect on help-seeking attitudes.
Specially, students who perceived a choice in seeking counselling had more favourable attitudes towards counselling than students who did not perceive a choice. Type of problem had different effects on help-seeking attitudes depending on whether the student was a nonhelp-seeker, a voluntary client, or an involuntary client. Surprisingly though, previous counselling experience did not contribute to variability in help-seeking attitudes.
The findings of the study provide evidence for the cross-cultural applicability of the sociopsychological variables, at least in the Singapore adolescent population, in influencing help-seeking attitudes. The current study also highlights the importance of having separate analyses for the different types of counselling clients since different factors make different contributions to help-seeking attitudes, depending on whether the student is a voluntary or involuntary client. The implications for the psycho educational and outreach efforts to promote a positive help-seeking culture in school are discussed. The study proposes further recommendations for future research.
The sociopsychological variables of anticipated utility, self-disclosure, stigma, social support and social norm, together with other variables such as nature of problem, previous counselling experience and perceived behavioural control are examined for their relationship with the help-seeking attitudes of Singapore adolescents.
1871 students from the secondary one to five levels in four mainstream secondary schools participated in the study. They were administered a self-report questionnaire that involved rating on a five-point Likert-type scale, their thoughts about seeking help from a professional counsellor. The students were administered the questionnaire in their school during the post-examination period in May 2009.
The findings suggest that higher levels of anticipated utility, social norm and selfdisclosure, and lower levels of social stigma and social support contributed to more favourable attitudes towards seeking professional help. Additionally, type of problem and perceived behavioural control were found to have some effect on help-seeking attitudes.
Specially, students who perceived a choice in seeking counselling had more favourable attitudes towards counselling than students who did not perceive a choice. Type of problem had different effects on help-seeking attitudes depending on whether the student was a nonhelp-seeker, a voluntary client, or an involuntary client. Surprisingly though, previous counselling experience did not contribute to variability in help-seeking attitudes.
The findings of the study provide evidence for the cross-cultural applicability of the sociopsychological variables, at least in the Singapore adolescent population, in influencing help-seeking attitudes. The current study also highlights the importance of having separate analyses for the different types of counselling clients since different factors make different contributions to help-seeking attitudes, depending on whether the student is a voluntary or involuntary client. The implications for the psycho educational and outreach efforts to promote a positive help-seeking culture in school are discussed. The study proposes further recommendations for future research.
Date Issued
2010
Call Number
HM1141 Tan
Date Submitted
2010