STIGMA, ATTITUDE, PERCEIVED RISKS AND BENEFITS IN HELP SEEKING BEHAVIORS AMONG COUPLES WITH MARITAL ISSUES

Abstract

The current study aims to explore help seeking behavior among couples with relationship issues by assessing the role of stigma, attitude, perceived risks and benefits, based on explanatory sequential design. In the first phase (quantitative), the sample of 150 couples (N=300) with relationship issues were approached. Data was collected using standardized instruments. Stigma was assessed using Self-Stigma of Seeking Psychological Help scale (Vogel, 2006). Attitude towards help seeking using Attitude Towards Seeking Professional Help (Allyn, 1995), Perceived risks and benefits was measured by Disclosure Expectation Scale (Vogel & Wester, 2005), marital satisfaction by using Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale and to measure help seeking behavior General Help Seeking Behavior (Rickwood, 2005) was used. After data analysis with SPSS-23, results showed that attitude was significant predictor of help seeking behavior. Results indicated that Stigma was significant moderator in relationship between attitudes towards help seeking behavior. Stigma was significant moderator in relationship between attitude towards help seeking and marital satisfaction. Findings revealed that perceived risks and benefits did not significantly moderate the relationship between attitude towards help-seeking and help-seeking behavior, nor the relationship between attitude towards help-seeking and marital satisfaction. In second phase (qualitative), interviews were conducted with five couples (N=10) having relationship issues. Thematic analysis was used, after initial coding themes and sub-themes were generated based on responses which were stigma, psycho-social and economic factors, mental health literacy and positive attitude towards help seeking behavior. The study concluded that couple’s help seeking behavior is greatly influenced by stigma, and attitude