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Personality-related factors as predictors of help-seeking for depression: a population-based study applying the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use

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Abstract

Background

Although the prevalence of mental disorders and the demand for mental health services are increasing, little is known about the impact of personality-related factors on help-seeking among depressive individuals. We, therefore, investigated the relationship between the “Big Five” personality traits, resilience, alexithymia, childhood neglect or abuse, and help-seeking among depressive individuals.

Methods

We used data from 354 persons with a diagnosis of major depression from the population-based cohort study of health in Pomerania within the theoretical framework of the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.

Results

Using stepwise regression techniques, we found that older age, higher education, more perceived social support, presence of childhood abuse, higher levels of conscientiousness, lower levels of resilience, and more severe depression were associated with help-seeking for depression. In contrast, gender, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and alexithymia did not significantly predict help-seeking. In addition, no evidence for gender-specific effects was observed.

Conclusion

Personality-related predisposing factors are important predictors of help-seeking. The influence of resilience on help-seeking among depressed individuals merits further exploration.

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Acknowledgments

SHIP is part of the Community Medicine Research net of the University of Greifswald, Germany, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (grants no. 01ZZ9603, 01ZZ0103, and 01ZZ0403), the Ministry of Cultural Affairs as well as the Social Ministry of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. The SHIP-LEGEND study was founded by the German Research Foundation (DFG: GR1912/5-1).

Conflict of interest

Disclosure of external financial support in the past 5 years, Hans Joergen Grabe: German Research Foundation; Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany; speakers honoraria from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Eisai, Wyeth, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Servier and travel funds from Janssen-Cilag, Eli Lilly, Novartis, AstraZeneca and SALUS-Institute for Trend-Research and Therapy Evaluation in Mental Health. All other authors have nothing to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Georg Schomerus, Katja Appel & Hans J. Grabe

  2. HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany

    Georg Schomerus & Hans J. Grabe

  3. Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Katja Appel

  4. Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Peter J. Meffert & Sebastian E. Baumeister

  5. Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Melanie Luppa

  6. Department of Health Policy and Management Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

    Ronald M. Andersen

  7. Department of Psychiatry, University of Greifswald, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 17437, Stralsund, Germany

    Georg Schomerus

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  1. Georg Schomerus
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  2. Katja Appel
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  3. Peter J. Meffert
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Correspondence to Georg Schomerus.

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Schomerus, G., Appel, K., Meffert, P.J. et al. Personality-related factors as predictors of help-seeking for depression: a population-based study applying the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1809–1817 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0643-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0643-1

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