ETHNICITY, ATTITUDE TOWARD SEEKING HELP AND GENDER AS PREDICTORS OF STUDENTS' INTENTIONS TO SEEK PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP

Abstract

This study explored the predictive roles of ethnicity, attitude towards seeking help and gender on intentions to seek psychological help. Two hundred and fifty three (253) undergraduates (140 males and 113 females; 45 Hausa-Fulani, 62 Yoruba, and 146 Ibos) whose ages ranged from 18-27 (M= 20.85) were sampled from a University in South-Eastern Nigeria. Attitude towards seeking help and intentions to seek psychological help were assessed using the Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale and Intentions of Seeking Counselling Inventory. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that attitude towards seeking help significantly predicted students' intention to seek psychological help. Ethnicity and gender did not significantly predict intentions to seek psychological help. This finding implies that there is urgent need to popularise counselling and its' benefits to mental health especially among undergraduates. Adequate awareness will help undergraduates develop positive dispositions toward seeking help; as a result, their psychological wellbeing would greatly improve. In conclusion, the present finding confirms that  attitude is really a strong predictor of intentions to seek help. Counsellors and other helping  professionals thus need to organize attitude change campaigns to educate these students on the need to seek help and on time.