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Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form in Mainland China

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Abstract

This investigation tested the psychometric properties of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF; Fisher and Farina [Journal of College Student Development, 36, 368–373, 1995]) in a sample of 338 Mainland Chinese college students. Using back-translation, the ATSPPH-SF was translated into simplified Chinese. Confirmatory factor analysis did not support the original one-factor model. Subsequently, exploratory factor analysis suggested a 7-item, two-factor model; however, the new factor structure yielded poor reliability coefficients, below .60. Results suggest that the help-seeking construct as operationalized by the ATSPPH-SF may not be valid for the Chinese population. The importance of designing indigenous instruments for help-seeking attitudes is discussed.

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  1. University of Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY, USA

    Ke Fang, Alex L Pieterse & Myrna Friedlander

  2. CHE Senior Psychological Services, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Junhong Cao

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  1. Ke Fang
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Correspondence to Ke Fang.

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Fang, K., Pieterse, A.L., Friedlander, M. et al. Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form in Mainland China. Int J Adv Counselling 33, 309–321 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-011-9137-1

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