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Mental Health Stigma and Self-Concealment as Predictors of Help-Seeking Attitudes among Latina/o College Students in the United States

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Abstract

The study examined whether mental health stigma and self-concealment are uniquely related to various dimensions of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological services (i.e., help-seeking attitudes) in Latina/o college students. Data from 129 Latina/o undergraduates (76 % female) were used in the analysis. Results revealed that mental health stigma was a unique predictor of overall help-seeking attitudes. Mental health stigma was also significantly related to recognition of need for psychotherapeutic help, stigma tolerance, and interpersonal openness, but not to confidence in mental health practitioners. Self-concealment was uniquely related to stigma tolerance and interpersonal openness.

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Notes

  1. “Latinos” will be used as the generic term throughout the paper when referring to people of Latin American extraction or descent. When the matter relates to specific gender groups, Latinas (women) and Latinos (men) will be the terms used.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA

    Hadrian Mendoza, Akihiko Masuda & Kevin M. Swartout

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  1. Hadrian Mendoza
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Mendoza, H., Masuda, A. & Swartout, K.M. Mental Health Stigma and Self-Concealment as Predictors of Help-Seeking Attitudes among Latina/o College Students in the United States. Int J Adv Counselling 37, 207–222 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-015-9237-4

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