Abstract: Chinese Mental Health Help-Seeking (Society for Social Work and Research 26th Annual Conference - Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice)

Schedule:

Friday, January 14, 2022

Mint, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington, DC)

* noted as presenting author

Robin Gearing, PhD, Professor & Director, Center for Mental Health Research and Innovation in Treatment Engagement and Service (MH-RITES Center), University of Houston, Houston, TX

Kathryne Brewer, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of New Hampshire, Durham, Durham, NH

Patrick Leung, PhD, Professor, University of Houston, Houston, TX

Monit Cheung, PhD, Professor, University of Houston, Houston, TX

Wanzhen Chen, PhD, Lecturer, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

Christian Carr, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Houston, Houston, TX

Arlene Bjugstad, MSW, PhD student, University of Houston, Houston, TX

He Xuesong, Professor, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

Background: In China, mental health disorders are considered to be the leading causes of disability. The estimated lifetime prevalence of any mental health disorder in China is over 16% of the country’s population. Yet, treatment-seeking behaviors among individuals with mental health problems are very low in China, with more than 91% of people going untreated. This study sought to examine attitudes and participant characteristics associated with help-seeking among adults residing in Shanghai, China.

Methods: Employing a convenience cross-sectional sampling strategy, 500 participants were recruited in public areas throughout the Shanghai metropolitan, China between April 2018 and July 2018. This cross-sectional survey administered in Mandarin was comprised of demographic, background characteristics, and standardized measures (e.g., Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale, Stigma Concerns about Mental Health Care Scale, Devaluation of Consumer Families Scale). Analyses were performed with R 4.0.3, using the lavaan package for structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results: The mean age of participants was 37. 9 years (SD = 14.2) and 53% were female. Approximately 52% of respondents had some exposure to individuals with mental health problems. Fit of the final structural regression model was good: χ_(Yuan-Bentler)^2 (201) = 210.190, p = .314; CFI = .989, TLI = .988, RMSEA = 0.014, 90% CI [0.000, 0.031], SRMR = .049. The model explained 12% and 4% of the variance in openness to help-seeking among males and females respectively. After controlling for other predictors, participants who had been exposed to MHP (i.e., anyone, friend, family, or self) expressed more open attitudes toward seeking psychological help (a predicted 0.386 SD unit increase in help-seeking openness).

Conclusions: In China, fewer than 10% of individuals with mental health problems seek out professional treatment. The current study investigated mental health help-seeking behavior in a community sample in Shanghai, China. Findings indicate that beliefs about seeking professional help for mental health are influenced by knowing someone with a mental health problem. In addition, males who were older, had a child, and were married endorsed more openness to help-seeking for mental health needs, underscoring the importance of life experience as an important variable when considering attitudes toward help-seeking. Findings support future research identifying the mechanisms by which these life experiences impact individuals’ help-seeking attitudes. Moreover, further research may benefit from identifying the mechanisms by which these life experiences impact individuals’ help-seeking attitudes. Continued research on mental health in China is essential to better understand points of effective intervention that are evidence-based and culturally responsive. Future clinical and research implications for social work practice will be explored within Chinese communities.