Applying the Social Norms Approach to Help Seeking Behavior in the Military

Abstract

APPLYING THE SOCIAL NORMS APPROACH TO HELP SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN THE MILITARY By Janette Ann Hamilton, M.A. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Major Director: Steven Danish, Ph.D. Professor, Counseling Psychology OBJECTIVE: The study assessed the applicability of the social norms approach to helpseeking behavior in the military by exploring whether Service Members are affected by perceptions of peers’ beliefs about stigma related barriers to mental health care. METHOD: Data were collected from members of the Virginia National Guard (N= 84) during Yellow Ribbon events. Using surveys, Service Members’ own perceptions and their perceptions of their peers’ beliefs about barriers to seeking psychological care were gathered. RESULTS: Participants’ own beliefs about barriers to care were positively correlated with perceptions of peers’ beliefs. Variance in help-seeking status was better accounted for by participants’ own beliefs on stigma-related barriers to care, but perceptions of peers’ beliefs were also correlated with help-seeking status. CONCLUSION: Personal costs of seeking help according to personal and perceptions of peers’ beliefs are explored, as well as implications, next steps for future research, and limitations.