ERIC Number: EJ1177656
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Apr
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2073-7629
EISSN: N/A
Help-Seeking Online by Young People: Does the Influence of Others Matter?
Stretton, Alexander; Spears, Barbara A.; Taddeo, Carmel; Drennan, Judy
International Journal of Emotional Education, v10 n1 p25-46 Apr 2018
Help-seeking is an adaptive process whereby a person seeks external support for a problem. Help-seeking early in response to mental health concerns is thus important in preventing mental illness in later life. Recent developments in service provision such as online help services, have been identified as promoting help-seeking behaviours, but there are many barriers that work against a young person seeking effective help early on, including personal characteristics such as attitudes toward help sources. Further, the influence of others on a young person's help-seeking behaviours is beginning to emerge in the youth help-seeking literature, and may be an important facilitator of help-seeking behaviours. The present mixed-method study explored young people's attitudes toward help sources, and how receptive young people are to the influence of others on their help-seeking intentions. Critically, the study aims to determine whether these variables have varying effects on different types of help sources (formal, informal and online). It was found that the influence of others and attitudes toward help sources had little bearing on online help-seeking intentions, in contrast to help-seeking intentions from traditional modes of help-seeking. Recommendations are made as to how young people can be better informed about the benefits of online help-seeking, with the hopes of highlighting the potentially untapped resource of other people's influence on a young person's decision to seek help online.
Descriptors: Help Seeking, Mental Disorders, Internet, Barriers, Prevention, Mixed Methods Research, Intention, Decision Making, Emotional Disturbances, College Students, Student Attitudes, Statistical Analysis, Foreign Countries, Measures (Individuals), Questionnaires, Semi Structured Interviews
Centre for Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health. Old Humanities Building (OH) Room 241, University of Malta, MSD 2080, Malta. Tel: +356-2340-3014; Web site: http://www.um.edu.mt/ijee
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A