A Test of Cramer's (1999) Help-Seeking Model and Acculturation Effects With Asian and Asian American College Students.

Abstract

The generalizability of K. M. Cramer's (1999) help-seeking model was examined for Asian and Asian American college students. The construct of acculturation was then added to Cramer's model to determine if it would improve the model fit. Asian and Asian American (n ϭ 202) students completed help-seeking measures and behavioral and value-based measures of acculturation. White (n ϭ 336) students completed only help-seeking measures. Although path analyses showed that Cramer's model fit both samples, structural invariance analysis indicated differential model functioning between groups that can be primarily attributed to self-concealment, a concept central to understanding Asians' and Asian Americans' attitudes toward help seeking. The addition of acculturation, especially adherence to Asian value, to Cramer's model improved model fit.

Comparing Japanese International College Students' and U.S. College Students' Mental‐Health‐Related Stigmatizing Attitudes

“…The Japanese international student group was expected to have greater self-concealment, because the ability to control emotions and the ability to resolve psychological problems without aid are viewed as virtues in Asian cultures, including Japanese culture (Kim, Atkinson, & Yang, 1999). Nevertheless, our results suggest that there is a universal nature of self-concealment, as found in previous studies (e.g., Liao, Rounds, & Klein, 2005). As predicted, gender was not a variable related to the attitudes measured here.…”

“…A third limitation is that no data were gathered in terms of within-group differences, such as students' region of origin, knowledge about or experience with professional psychological services, and the level of acculturation. For example, many studies have shown that acculturation (e.g., Liao et al, 2005) is strongly related to help-seeking attitudes and psychological variables targeted in the present study. It is speculated that these factors might have mediated ethnic group differences as well as differences among Japanese international students in the present study.…”

Help‐seeking behavior of west African Migrants

“…The role of acculturation can account separately for the process of adapting to the dominant culture and the process of retaining indigenous cultural orientations (Liao, Rounds, & Klein, 2005). Being involved in Dutch society-but not in a assimilate way (see La Fromboise, Coleman, & Gerton, 1993)-may determine considerably the attitude toward health care and the time before taking action.…”

Mental Health Stigma, Self-Concealment, and Help-Seeking Attitudes among Asian American and European American College Students with No Help-Seeking Experience

“…In these cultural contexts, excessive self-disclosure and strong emotional expression are devalued because they are regarded as disruptive acts against collective harmony and personal and family honor. Evidence suggests that Asian American college students have greater self-concealment than European American college students (Masuda et al 2009a) and that self-concealment is more negatively related to attitudes toward seeking professional psychological services for Asian and Asian American students (Liao et al 2005).…”