Cited by 208Mental Health Treatment and AccessSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesPsychology and Mental Health

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Help-seeking for mental health problems among Chinese: The application and extension of the theory of planned behavior

Mo, Phoenix K. H., Mak, Winnie W. S.·2009·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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Abstract

The underutilization of professional care is a perennial problem among Chinese populations. To examine the social-cognitive factors that may affect help-seeking intentions, the present study applied and extended Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand the intention to seek help from mental health professionals among Chinese. The effect of mental health and perceived barriers to help-seeking were also examined. Nine hundred and forty-one Chinese were recruited using a randomized household design in Hong Kong. Results from structural equation modeling showed that attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and perceived barriers significantly predicted help-seeking intention. Mental health showed no significant effect on help-seeking intention. In addition, subjective norm indirectly predicted intention to seek help from mental health professionals through influencing attitude and perceived behavioral control. Results from multi-group analyses revealed that all path coefficients were invariant across gender. Results supported the utilization of TPB in understanding help-seeking intentions and highlighted the importance of subjective norm among Chinese. Implications on the enhancement of mental health awareness and the promotion of mental health services through a social-cognitive approach were highlighted.

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Authors: Mo, P. K. H., & Mak, W. W. S.
Affiliations: University of Nottingham (GB)
Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
Corresponding author: Mo, Phoenix K. H.
ORCID: Mo, Phoenix K. H.
Mak, Winnie W. S.
Venue: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2009-03-04
Volume: 44
Issue: 8
Pages: 675-684
ISSN: 0933-7954 (ISSN-L)
1433-9285
DOI: 10.1007/s00127-008-0484-0
OpenAlex: W1593259700
Semantic Scholar: f2077ad417516b98872ee059260e7a93bab326d0
Cited by: 207
References: 65
Citations by year: 2026: 14 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 7.40
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
Keywords: help-seeking intentions, mental illness, Chinese population, theory of planned behavior, subjective norms, perceived barriers, mental health service utilization, mental health awareness, gender differences, Hong Kong
MeSH terms: Attitude to Health, Awareness, Mental Disorders, Female, Hong Kong, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Personality Inventory, Surveys and Questionnaires, Health Behavior, Behavior Control, Intention, Asian People

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Help-seeking for mental health problems among Chinese: The application and extension of the theory of planned behavior

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