The prediction of personality, culture and coping strategies on university students psychological help seeking attitudes

Abstract

 This study has attempted to investigate the predictability of university students’ personality traits, cultural values, stress coping strategies, negative automatic thoughts and gender on their professional/formal psychological help seeking attitudes. This research has been carried on with the participation of a total of 1284 university students. Predictive correlational method was used. To collect data, valid and reliable measurements were conducted. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis has been used to evaluate the data. As predictors of the psychological help seeking attitude, conscientious and agreeable students have more positive attitudes, but negative-valent and open ones have more negative attitudes. Students who use seeking social support and avoidance stress coping strategies have more positive attitudes, but who use keep-to-self have more negative attitudes. Collectivist and female participants’ help seeking attitudes are more positive. With these variables, 14% of the attitude of seeking psychological help is explained. The findings of the study were associated to Theory of Planned Behavior and discussed in the light of literature.