April 4-6, 2024 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Innovations in Health Communication
Innovations in Health Communication
Abstract: Differences in Mental Health Stigma and Help-Seeking Intention among Asian Americans: The Roles of Gender, Age, and Education
Background: Asian Americans (AAs) face significant disparities in mental health service utilization. Stigma, including public and self-stigma, is often recognized as a barrier to seeking help. Due to gender role socialization, cultural barriers, and low help-seeking awareness, previous research has indicated that men, young individuals, and highly educated people tend to have higher levels of stigma and lower willingness to seek help. However, research on age, gender, and education level differences in public and self-stigma related to mental health help-seeking and intentions among AAs remains limited. To address this gap, this study posed the following hypotheses and research question: H1: (a) males (vs. female), (b) young (vs. old) people, (c) higher-educated (vs. Lower-educated) people have higher public and self-stigma and lower help-seeking intentions among AAs. RQ1: Are there interaction effects between gender, age, and education level on public and self-stigma and help-seeking intentions among AAs?
Method: A nationally representative survey (N = 600, Asian Americans) was conducted on Qualtrics in the Summer of 2023. Participants were asked about their perceived public and self-stigma in mental health help-seeking and help-seeking intentions when experiencing mental health issues (five-point scale). Demographic information, including gender, age, education level, and ethnic group, was collected. Multivariate GLM was used with gender, age, and education level as predictors, and self-reported public and self-stigma and help-seeking intention as outcome variables, controlling for English proficiency.
Results: Age and gender significantly influence public and self-stigma associated with seeking help for mental health. Young AAs exhibit higher levels of public (M = 3.12, SD = .95) and self-stigma (M = 2.92, SD = 1.00) than compared to older AAs (Public stigma: M = 2.63, SD = .89; Self-stigma: M = 2.28, SD = .93), F(2, 559) = 18.86, p < .001. Male AAs, in comparison to female AAs, have a higher public (M = 3.09, SD = .98), F(1, 559) = 8.31, p = .004, and self-stigma (M = 2.87, SD = .90), F(1, 559) = 12.35, p < .001. No effects of education level on stigma and intention have been found. Notably, intention was negatively correlated with self-stigma (r = -.17, p <.001). Additionally, an interaction effect between education level and age on intention was identified, F(2, 599) = 3.20, p = .042. Young AAs with college or higher degrees exhibited the lowest intention to seek help (M = 3.62, SD = 1.01) when experiencing mental health issues. Also, an interaction effect between gender and age on intention was identified, F(2, 559) = 6.64, p = .001. Young male AAs showed the lowest intention to seek help for mental health(M = 3.50, SD = 1.03).
Discussion: These findings emphasize the importance of reducing public and self-stigma among young and male Asian Americans when seeking help for mental health. Notably, self-stigma shows a negative correlation with help-seeking intentions. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for more interventions aimed at encouraging young male AAs, as well as young AAs with college and higher degrees, to seek help when experiencing mental health issues.
Method: A nationally representative survey (N = 600, Asian Americans) was conducted on Qualtrics in the Summer of 2023. Participants were asked about their perceived public and self-stigma in mental health help-seeking and help-seeking intentions when experiencing mental health issues (five-point scale). Demographic information, including gender, age, education level, and ethnic group, was collected. Multivariate GLM was used with gender, age, and education level as predictors, and self-reported public and self-stigma and help-seeking intention as outcome variables, controlling for English proficiency.
Results: Age and gender significantly influence public and self-stigma associated with seeking help for mental health. Young AAs exhibit higher levels of public (M = 3.12, SD = .95) and self-stigma (M = 2.92, SD = 1.00) than compared to older AAs (Public stigma: M = 2.63, SD = .89; Self-stigma: M = 2.28, SD = .93), F(2, 559) = 18.86, p < .001. Male AAs, in comparison to female AAs, have a higher public (M = 3.09, SD = .98), F(1, 559) = 8.31, p = .004, and self-stigma (M = 2.87, SD = .90), F(1, 559) = 12.35, p < .001. No effects of education level on stigma and intention have been found. Notably, intention was negatively correlated with self-stigma (r = -.17, p <.001). Additionally, an interaction effect between education level and age on intention was identified, F(2, 599) = 3.20, p = .042. Young AAs with college or higher degrees exhibited the lowest intention to seek help (M = 3.62, SD = 1.01) when experiencing mental health issues. Also, an interaction effect between gender and age on intention was identified, F(2, 559) = 6.64, p = .001. Young male AAs showed the lowest intention to seek help for mental health(M = 3.50, SD = 1.03).
Discussion: These findings emphasize the importance of reducing public and self-stigma among young and male Asian Americans when seeking help for mental health. Notably, self-stigma shows a negative correlation with help-seeking intentions. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for more interventions aimed at encouraging young male AAs, as well as young AAs with college and higher degrees, to seek help when experiencing mental health issues.