Abstract:
Much research exists pertaining to psychological help-seeking behaviors and intentions in
the United States (U.S.; Levinson & Ifrah, 2010; Vogel & Wester, 2003; Wendt & Shafer, 2015;
Ægisdóttir & Gerstein, 2009), yet little research considers comprehensive models of
psychological help-seeking behaviors and intentions in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Whereas the
U.S. and U.K share many cultural similarities, one may anticipate different factors influencing
help-seeking tendencies between these two countries due to dissimilar health care systems. As a
result, British university students were surveyed, and data were analyzed using path analysis. In
the initial analysis, neither the hypothesized, partially mediated alternative, or unmediated
alternative models were good fits to the data; however, several significant paths were observed.
First, there was a direct, positive relationship between perceived benefits and psychological helpseeking
intentions. A direct, positive relationship between prior psychological help-seeking and
psychological help-seeking intention was observed. There was a direct, negative relationship
between perceived internal barriers (i.e., stigma) and psychological help-seeking intention.
Finally, there was a small, yet significant, positive relationship between perceived severity and
psychological help-seeking intentions. In post-hoc analysis, an additional model was tested
which indicated good model-fit for psychological help-seeking intentions in the current British
university sample. Implications, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.
