Stigma and psychological help-seeking of veterans
Abstract
Because of the increasing rates of suicide and underutilization of mental health services among veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study examines help-seeking attitudes of veterans that screen positive for PTSD. I used multiple regression to test a model for understanding psychological help-seeking. Specifically, four potential moderating hypotheses were tested that examined the relationships between PTSD, posttraumatic growth (PTG), stigma, and psychological help-seeking. Vogel, Wade, and Hackler’s (2007) model of help-seeking was adapted in this study. Veterans ( N = 152) recruited via VA mental health centers as well as from a college campus in a Midwestern state completed the following questionnaires: (a) demographic questionnaire; (b) PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M; Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, 1993); (c) Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi, & Calhoun, 1996); (d) Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help (SSRPH; Komiya et al., 2000); (e) Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH; Vogel et al., 2006); and (f); Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale – Short Form (ATSPPHS-SF, Fischer & Farina, 1995). This study provides psychologists with a better understanding of veteran’s help-seeking attitudes and an intervention for decreasing stigma. Specifically, the results indicated significant group differences between: (a) individuals meeting criteria for a PTSD diagnosis (n = 73) versus individuals who did not meet criteria for PTSD (n = 79), (b) participants who indicated they had previously participated in mental health counseling (n = 93) versus individuals who had not (n = 58), and (c) individuals who had participated previously in mental health counseling who indicated (n = 53) or did not indicate ( n = 32) concerns that such participation would negatively affect their employment status. Furthermore, two of the four tested hypotheses revealed moderating relationships: (a) public stigma was found to moderate the relationship between PTSD and PTG, and (b) PTG was found to moderate the relationship between self-stigma and help-seeking attitudes. Recommendations and implications for practice are provided. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Ciftci, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Counseling Psychology
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