Attitudes and stigma toward seeking psychological help among Saudi Adults

Abstract

Background In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), public attitudes and stigma toward mental health illness seem to prevent people from seeking psychological help, which negatively impacts an individual's life. The primary objective of this study was to investigate people's attitudes toward seeking psychological help and identify the extent to which the associated stigma is responsible for preventing them from seeking psychological help. Methods Two hundred eighteen adults recruited from the community living in the Eastern Province of the KSA completed the questionnaires, customized to create the Arabic version of Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF-A), the Arabic version of Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help (SSRPH-A), and the Arabic version of Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25-A). Results Both stigma and psychological distress significantly affected attitudes toward seeking professional help. Furthermore, it indicated that attitudes were negatively correlated with stigma while positively correlated with psychological distress. No significant difference in attitudes toward psychological help-seeking was identified between male and female participants. However, males displayed higher levels of stigma, while females showed greater psychological distress. Furthermore, the groups who received psychological treatment demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Conclusion Stigma and psychological stress influence attitudes toward treatment-seeking behavior for mental illness, making them two major predictors responsible for the underutilization of mental health services. More research is needed to assess specific sociodemographic disparities across more data sources and the factors that further contribute to stigma and psychological distress.

Mental health stigma and internship nursing students’ attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help: a cross-sectional study

“…Similarly [ 2 ], who studied, Attitudes and stigma toward seeking psychological help among Saudi Adults, in Saudi Arabia, found that males exhibited a greater degree of perceived stigma compared to females.…”

“…On the contrary [ 2 ], who studied Attitudes and stigma toward seeking psychological help among Saudi Adults, in Saudi Arabia, found that married individuals exhibited a higher level of stigma toward psychological help-seeking.…”

“…The presence of mental illnesses can result in significant distress and disability, affecting the overall quality of life for individuals involved. While these conditions are treatable when detected early, the existence of stigma and negative attitudes acts as a barrier, preventing individuals from seeking necessary psychological assistance and hindering the process of recovery from mental disorders [ 2 ].…”

Attitudes and Stigma Toward Seeking Psychological Help Among the General Population of Makkah, Saudi Arabia

“…In contrast, public stigmatization refers to how the general public reacts to a particular group of stigmatized individuals [7]. Researchers have discovered that helpseeking attitudes are potent indicators of intentions to seek psychological care [8][9][10]. Although there have been huge advances in the understanding and recognition of help-seeking behavior, widespread unfavorable views persist in Saudi Arabia about people with mental illnesses [11].…”

Gender differences in attitudes towards psychological help-seeking among chinese medical students: a comparative analysis

“…Furthermore, normative alexithymia and fear of intimacy [ 20 ] have been found to be associated with a negative attitude towards help-seeking. Individuals who have previously received psychological treatment tend to have a more positive attitude towards seeking help [ 23 ]. Additionally, traditional masculine ideology [ 20 ] has been identified as a significant factor influencing attitudes towards seeking help.…”