The relatively low utilization of mental health care is a concern for psychology, as only 32% of individuals with a psychological disorder receive treatment (Andrews, Issakidis, & Carter, 2001). It is typically attitudinal rather than structural barriers that influence individuals when deciding to pursue treatment (Outram, Murphy, & Cockburn, 2004). This study utilized the theory of reasoned action as a model to test the relationship among variables hypothesized to contribute to the intention to seek therapy: public stigma, self-stigma, social support, self-efficacy, attitudes toward seeking therapy, and psychological distress. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate barriers to seeking therapy. Structural equation modeling was used to show that the theory of reasoned action provided a good fit to the data, as positive attitudes toward therapy was a stronger predictor of intentions to seek therapy than self-stigma. The statistical model that included all of the variables demonstrated that positive attitudes toward therapy and higher levels of social support were both direct predictors of higher intentions to seek therapy. In the qualitative interviews, the majority of barriers described by participants were attitudinal rather than structural. These individuals related experiences of shame, prejudice, and stigma related to seeking psychological treatment. However, participants described critically significant support and encouragement from their social network. Based on the results, recommendations are made for future studies and mental health advocacy efforts.
","abstract_html":"<p>The relatively low utilization of mental health care is a concern for psychology, as only 32% of individuals with a psychological disorder receive treatment (Andrews, Issakidis, & Carter, 2001). It is typically attitudinal rather than structural barriers that influence individuals when deciding to pursue treatment (Outram, Murphy, & Cockburn, 2004). This study utilized the theory of reasoned action as a model to test the relationship among variables hypothesized to contribute to the intention to seek therapy: public stigma, self-stigma, social support, self-efficacy, attitudes toward seeking therapy, and psychological distress. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate barriers to seeking therapy. Structural equation modeling was used to show that the theory of reasoned action provided a good fit to the data, as positive attitudes toward therapy was a stronger predictor of intentions to seek therapy than self-stigma. The statistical model that included all of the variables demonstrated that positive attitudes toward therapy and higher levels of social support were both direct predictors of higher intentions to seek therapy. In the qualitative interviews, the majority of barriers described by participants were attitudinal rather than structural. These individuals related experiences of shame, prejudice, and stigma related to seeking psychological treatment. However, participants described critically significant support and encouragement from their social network. Based on the results, recommendations are made for future studies and mental health advocacy efforts.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Altiere, Matthew J."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Open Access Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Silvia von Kluge (chair)","Norman Gordon","Ellen Koch"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-06-29T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-06-29T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:57Z","subjects":["Clinical Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/518","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Silvia von Kluge (chair)","Norman Gordon","Ellen Koch"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Altiere, Matthew J."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-09-19T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Clinical Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/518"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The relatively low utilization of mental health care is a concern for psychology, as only 32% of individuals with a psychological disorder receive treatment (Andrews, Issakidis, & Carter, 2001). It is typically attitudinal rather than structural barriers that influence individuals when deciding to pursue treatment (Outram, Murphy, & Cockburn, 2004). This study utilized the theory of reasoned action as a model to test the relationship among variables hypothesized to contribute to the intention to seek therapy: public stigma, self-stigma, social support, self-efficacy, attitudes toward seeking therapy, and psychological distress. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate barriers to seeking therapy. Structural equation modeling was used to show that the theory of reasoned action provided a good fit to the data, as positive attitudes toward therapy was a stronger predictor of intentions to seek therapy than self-stigma. The statistical model that included all of the variables demonstrated that positive attitudes toward therapy and higher levels of social support were both direct predictors of higher intentions to seek therapy. In the qualitative interviews, the majority of barriers described by participants were attitudinal rather than structural. These individuals related experiences of shame, prejudice, and stigma related to seeking psychological treatment. However, participants described critically significant support and encouragement from their social network. Based on the results, recommendations are made for future studies and mental health advocacy efforts.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Intentions to seek therapy, attitudes, and stigma: An analysis of the theory of reasoned action"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Silvia von Kluge (chair)","Norman Gordon","Ellen Koch"],"dc:creator":["Altiere, Matthew J."],"dc:date.available":["2013-09-19T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The relatively low utilization of mental health care is a concern for psychology, as only 32% of individuals with a psychological disorder receive treatment (Andrews, Issakidis, & Carter, 2001). It is typically attitudinal rather than structural barriers that influence individuals when deciding to pursue treatment (Outram, Murphy, & Cockburn, 2004). This study utilized the theory of reasoned action as a model to test the relationship among variables hypothesized to contribute to the intention to seek therapy: public stigma, self-stigma, social support, self-efficacy, attitudes toward seeking therapy, and psychological distress. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate barriers to seeking therapy. Structural equation modeling was used to show that the theory of reasoned action provided a good fit to the data, as positive attitudes toward therapy was a stronger predictor of intentions to seek therapy than self-stigma. The statistical model that included all of the variables demonstrated that positive attitudes toward therapy and higher levels of social support were both direct predictors of higher intentions to seek therapy. In the qualitative interviews, the majority of barriers described by participants were attitudinal rather than structural. These individuals related experiences of shame, prejudice, and stigma related to seeking psychological treatment. However, participants described critically significant support and encouragement from their social network. Based on the results, recommendations are made for future studies and mental health advocacy efforts.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/518"],"dc:subject":["Clinical Psychology"],"dc:title":["Intentions to seek therapy, attitudes, and stigma: An analysis of the theory of reasoned action"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:57Z"}