Abstract
Purpose: This study tested the efficacy of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining intention to seek mental health services and compared the traditional TPB model with a TPB partial mediation model. It also aimed to understand factors related to intention to seek mental health services in Macao to inform local policies.
Method: The present study consisted of two phases: (a) a pilot study to develop belief-based measures used in the main study, and (b) a cross-sectional study to investigate the application of TPB in understanding help-seeking intention. In the main study, 337 Macao residents (age range 18-65) participated in a survey conducted in the community.
Results: The TPB partial mediation model was better than the traditional TPB model in explaining help-seeking intention in Macao. The model also suggested that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were all significant predictors of help-seeking intention. However, symptom severity, prior help-seeking, and gender did not significantly directly predict help-seeking intention.
Conclusion: Preference for the TPB partial mediation model may be culturally relevant. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the salient beliefs about help-seeking. Limitations and recommendations for future research are provided. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1501-1515 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Early online date | 14 Nov 2013 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2014 |
