University of Twente Student Theses
Hulpzoekgedrag binnen de eerstelijns psychologische zorg: welke factoren spelen een rol bij het zoeken van psychologische hulp?
Horsthuis, A.M. (2014) Hulpzoekgedrag binnen de eerstelijns psychologische zorg: welke factoren spelen een rol bij het zoeken van psychologische hulp?
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| Abstract: | Background: Recent data shows that many people who experience mental problems wait a long time before going in to treatment. Exact reasons remain uncertain. Because the Health department wants reduce the pressure in the specialized mental health care by promoting earlier help seeking in the basic mental health care, an enlarged insight in the help seeking process is necessary. Recent studies in foreign country’s show that the prototype willingness model [PWM] could help predict help seeking behaviour. The PWM assumes that someone’s choice to engage in a certain behaviour is not only based on an intentional reasoned process whereby attitudes and subjective norms predict intention, but also on a social (more spontaneous) reasoned process whereby willingness is predicted by attitudes, subjective norms and prototypes. According to research other possible predictors are; gender, age, education level, knowledge about the mental health care and stigma. Purpose: This current study is aiming to increase the understanding of predictive factors on help seeking behaviour of the Dutch population in the primary mental health care by testing the predictive variables of the PWM and by testing other potential important variables (like knowledge and stigma). Methods: In this current cross-sectional survey people were approached by convenience sampling. The survey was completed by a total of 109 respondents. The survey contained 4 closed and 26 open questions about possible behaviour predictors. Questions where analysed by correlation, protector and linear analysis. The open questions where analysed by destillating certain themes and codes from answers that participants gave. Results: Intentions are significantly predicted by subjective norms and gender (R2= 0,257). Willingness was predicted by subjective norms and education level (R2= ,178). Intention and willingness seem to be multidimensional constructs. Respondents indicated that high costs, lack of time and low self-efficacy inhibit help seeking, most enhancing factor was the recommendation of important others. Furthermore respondents indicated that consultation hours without an appointment, clear information (about treatment programs & costs) and close contact with the general practitioner could encourage help seeking behaviour. Conclusions: Current research has shown a lack of support for the PWM. Help seeking behaviour could be promoted by increasing self-efficacy and knowledge by providing clear information about costs and treatment options and by involving important others (friends/family) in the help seeking process. Organizing rural campaigns about the basic mental health system, and local meetings to increase clearness about treatment possibilities, treatment examples and costs, as well as implementing open and evening office hours, could be first steps to increase help seeking behaviour. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/64886 |
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