We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Attitudinal Differences towards Mental Health Services between Younger and Older New Zealand Adults.
- Authors
James, Shelley A.; Buttle, Heather
- Abstract
This study aimed to explore attitudinal differences between young and older New Zealand adults to seeking professional mental health services, including effects of previous help, and the types of service preferred. A questionnaire which included the Inventory of Attitudes towards Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS), together with questions regarding previous help, and preferred services for mental health needs, was administered to 125 participants aged 27-91 residing in the north Auckland area. Older adults were higher in help-seeking propensity (HSP) but less psychologically open (PD) than their younger counterparts. In older adults only, previous help contributed positively towards PO, while increased satisfaction with previous help correlated with increased indifference to stigma (IS). Older adults had a preference for physicians for mental health issues, followed by friends, God, clergy and psychiatrists. Attitudes towards help-seeking were generally favourable in older adults, but their lower PO and preference for service provider may inhibit their use of professional psychological services. General practitioners and clergy need to be provided with resources which enable them to refer older adults appropriately.
- Subjects
NEW Zealand; MENTAL health services; HEALTH of older people; YOUTH health; GENERAL practitioners
- Publication
New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 2008, Vol 37, Issue 3, p33
- ISSN
0112-109X
- Publication type
Article