Attitudes towards mental health care in younger and older adults: similarities and differences
Abstract
It is commonly assumed that older and younger adults have very different attitudes about seeking mental health services and that this is a major factor in reducing the use of mental health services by the elderly. However, little evidence exists to illustrate how elders actually perceive mental health care. Responses from a survey of 474 older adults age 65 and over were compared with data from a national survey of 1001 persons age 21-65. Results indicate similarities in many attitudes including likelihood of seeking treatment for severe mental disorders, importance of mental health care, and concerns about cost and coverage as barriers to care. Differences included use of services, perceptions about less severe disorders, referral sources, and preferred providers. Clinical, policy and public education implications are discussed.
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These barriers (cost, not knowing where) replicate previous research that these are common barriers to help seeking across the lifespan.
“replicating previous research that these are common barriers to help seeking across the lifespan (Robb et al., 2003”
From Barriers to treatment for older adults seeking psychological therapy (2015) · cites this paper as Robb et al., 2003
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References 19 · Cited by 163
- Authors
- Robb, C., Haley, W. E., Becker, M. A., Polivka, L. A., & Chwa, H.-J.
- Affiliations
- University of South Florida (US)
- ORCID
- Haley, W. E.
- Venue
- Aging & Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2003-03
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 142-152
- ISSN
- 1360-7863 (ISSN-L)
- 1364-6915
- OpenAlex
- W2008437131
- Cited by
- 163
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Aging & Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Keywords
- older adults, young adults, help-seeking, mental health service utilization, barriers to care, referral sources, mental illness, mental health policy, public education
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Mental Disorders, Female, Geriatric Psychiatry, Health Services for the Aged, Humans, Male, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States
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