Anticipated family treatment stigma and help-seeking attitudes in Latine, Asian American, and White college students.

Abstract

Objective: Asian American and Latine college students have disproportionately low mental healthcare use. Anticipation of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination from family members (ie, anticipated family treatment stigma) may be relevant. This study investigated racial/ethnic differences in family stigma and help-seeking attitudes, the association between family stigma and help-seeking attitudes, and whether this association varied by race/ethnicity. Participants: College students at a diverse state university (N = 1,039; 649 Latine, 244 Asian American, 146 White). Methods: Participants completed an anonymous survey about mental health attitudes. Results: Asian American and Latine students reported greater family stigma and more negative help-seeking attitudes compared to White peers. Greater family stigma correlated with more negative help-seeking attitudes for Whites, but less so for Latines and not for Asian Americans, who both reported more negative attitudes toward help-seeking. Discussion: Anticipated family stigma may influence student treatment attitudes. College mental health outreach should address attitudes and potential family reactions.