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The application of the theory of planned behavior to help-seeking intention in a Chinese society

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 14 December 2013

Abstract

Purpose

This study tested the efficacy of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining intention to seek mental health services and compared the traditional TPB model with a TPB partial mediation model. It also aimed to understand factors related to intention to seek mental health services in Macao to inform local policies.

Method

The present study consisted of two phases: (a) a pilot study to develop belief-based measures used in the main study, and (b) a cross-sectional study to investigate the application of TPB in understanding help-seeking intention. In the main study, 337 Macao residents (age range 18–65) participated in a survey conducted in the community.

Results

The TPB partial mediation model was better than the traditional TPB model in explaining help-seeking intention in Macao. The model also suggested that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were all significant predictors of help-seeking intention. However, symptom severity, prior help-seeking, and gender did not significantly directly predict help-seeking intention.

Conclusion

Preference for the TPB partial mediation model may be culturally relevant. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the salient beliefs about help-seeking. Limitations and recommendations for future research are provided.

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Notes

  1. The item descriptive statistics could be found at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/71917286/Descriptive%20statistics.xlsx.

  2. The item intercorrelations could be found at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/71917286/Correlation%20item%20level.xlsx.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to Shu Fai Cheung (University of Macau) and Mark H. C. Lai (Texas A&M University) for their methodological guidance.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, China

    Hio Wa Mak

  2. School of Psychological and Clinical Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia

    J. Mark Davis

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Correspondence to Hio Wa Mak.

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Mak, H.W., Davis, J.M. The application of the theory of planned behavior to help-seeking intention in a Chinese society. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49, 1501–1515 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0792-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-013-0792-x

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