A Preliminary Investigation of Age Differences in Self-stigma of Professional Psychological Help-seeking

Description

Page: 231-234

Arpana Beniwal, Vanita Sondhi, and Aakriti Bhardwaj (Department of Applied Psychology, Vivekanand College, University of Delhi, Delhi)

This study investigated the self-stigma of seeking professional psychological help and explores potential age-related differences in this context. A total of 186 female participants from urban areas in India were categorized into two age groups: young people (ages from 15-25 yrs) with a sample size of 112 and old people (ages from 42-57 yrs) with a sample size of 74 were selected through purposive sampling. Participants completed the ‘Self-Stigma of Seeking Psychological Help Scale’ to measure self-stigma towards professional psychological help-seeking. Results indicate that the overall mean score on the scale was 20.09 (SD=6.05), suggesting a moderate level of self-stigma. However, statistical analysis did not reveal significant differences in self-stigma between the two age groups. Findings highlight the influence of societal and cultural factors on self-stigma, particularly in a collectivistic society like India where mental health issues are often viewed through a communal lens.