Document Type

Thesis

Comments

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Thesis supervisor: Dr. Kelly Brooks

Abstract

The cultures and healthcare systems in the United States and the United Kingdom are very different from each other, though citizens in both of these countries are exposed to stigma surrounding mental health and help-seeking. Examining the differences in stigma predictors and help-seeking behaviors between the two countries offers valuable insight into what cultural and structural factors play a role in whether or not a person in need seeks help. This study involved an online survey that asked college students in both countries to answer questions about their personal experience regarding mental health stigma and help-seeking. Multiple regressions were used to analyze the predictors of stigma, help-seeking behaviors, and the differences between the two countries. It was found that participants from the UK had significantly lower scores in help-seeking attitudes and perceived university support, and that men reported lower help-seeking attitudes and higher stigma than women. Several correlations are explored, including the significant positive correlation in the full sample between self-reliance and stigma as well as between help-seeking attitudes and mental health literacy and university support. Hierarchical multiple regressions predicting help-seeking were conducted separately for each country, revealing a similar role for self-stigma but some variation in relationships with other predictors. These results have important implications for how both countries can improve to better support their students, and could be used by universities in both nations.

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