Personality-related factors as predictors of help-seeking for depression: a population-based study applying the behavioral model of health services use
Abstract
Background Although the prevalence of mental disorders and the demand for mental health services are increasing, little is known about the impact of personality-related factors on help-seeking among depressive individuals. We, therefore, investigated the relationship between the "Big Five" personality traits, resilience, alexithymia, childhood neglect or abuse, and help-seeking among depressive individuals.Methods We used data from 354 persons with a diagnosis of major depression from the population-based cohort study of health in Pomerania within the theoretical framework of the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.Results Using stepwise regression techniques, we found that older age, higher education, more perceived social support, presence of childhood abuse, higher levels of conscientiousness, lower levels of resilience, and more severe depression were associated with help-seeking for depression. In contrast, gender, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and alexithymia did not significantly predict help-seeking. In addition, no evidence for gender-specific effects was observed.Conclusion Personality-related predisposing factors are important predictors of help-seeking. The influence of resilience on help-seeking among depressed individuals merits further exploration.
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Previous research has shown that personality traits such as agreeableness and conscientiousness may also influence help-seeking attitudes.
“Previous research has shown that personality traits such as agreeableness (Park et al., 2018) and conscientiousness (Schomerus et al., 2013) may also influence help-seeking attitudes.”
From Predictors of acceptability and engagement in a self-guided online program for depression and anxiety (2021) · cites this paper as Schomerus et al., 2013
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“Previous research has shown that personality traits such as agreeableness (Park et al., 2018) and conscientiousness (Schomerus et al., 2013) may also influence helpseeking attitudes.”
ResultShe, R., Wang, X., Zhang, Z., Li, J., Xu, J., You, H., Li, Y., Liang, Y., Li, S., Ma, L., et al. (2021) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.622677 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Schomerus, G., Appel, K., Meffert, P. J., Luppa, M., Andersen, R. M., Grabe, H. J., & Baumeister, S. E.
- Affiliations
- Universitätsmedizin Greifswald (DE)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Leipzig University (DE)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schomerus, Georg
- Venue
- Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Published
- 2012-12-25
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1809-1817
- ISSN
- 0933-7954 (ISSN-L)
- 1433-9285
- OpenAlex
- W2093628312
- Cited by
- 90
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 4.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- help-seeking, depression, personality traits, Big Five personality traits, resilience, alexithymia, child neglect, childhood abuse, Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, perceived social support, conscientiousness, mental health service utilization
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affective Symptoms, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Personality, Personality Inventory, Population Surveillance, Regression Analysis, Severity of Illness Index, Social Support, Prevalence, Health Care Surveys, Resilience, Psychological
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