Abstract

Pacific Islanders (PIs) report encountering various structural barriers to seeking mental health services. This study aimed to: (a) Evaluate the relationship between structural social determinants of health (SSDH) and attitudes toward help seeking, and (b) Test the mediating role of value and need in seeking treatment on demographic characteristics and openness to seeking professional help. A total of 129 participants (69% female) aged 18–74 (Mage = 34.33, SD = 12.73) completed questionnaires assessing SSDH barriers, demographic characteristics, and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Descriptive analyses, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed. We found that being unable to afford mental health services was positively associated with openness to seeking help. In addition, lack of access to childcare was negatively associated with openness to seeking help. However, SSDH that are frequently cited as barriers to mental health care (e.g., housing, transportation, language) were not found to be significant. We also found that education positively influenced the degree to which a person valued treatment, while SSDH and other demographic factors (e.g., years in the United States, primary language) did not. Value mediated the relationship between education and openness to seeking professional help. Our findings indicate that PI attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help are influenced by SSDH barriers. Support for PIs affected by SSDH barriers may help reduce health disparities and increase access to mental health care.

Degree

PhD

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Rights

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