Mothers' attitudes toward seeking help for their children from school and private psychologists.

Abstract

What inhibits parents from seeking psychological help for their children? This study examined the attitudes of mothers of school-age children toward seeking psychological help from school psychological services and from private psychologists. Mothers express greater and more intense worries in relation to seeking help from school psychological services as compared to private psychologists. Hypothetical vignettes about a problematic child also showed that mothers prefer to refer both their own child and that of a friend to a private psychologist. Reducing the threat aroused by public sector psychologists should increase the utilization of psychological help for children. Many children in need of psychological help do not receive it. In fact, only a small percentage of those requiring psychological help reach mental health services (Garland & Zigler, 1994; Kolko & Kazdin, 1993; Pavuluri, Luk, & McGee, 1996). The gap between the number of individuals in need of help and those receiving it has been called the “service gap” (Stefl & Prosperi, 1985). It appears that several emotional barriers prevent individuals from receiving psychological help. It is important that psychologists, particularly those in the public sector, and school authorities become aware of this problematic phenomenon. Research in the field of help-seeking behavior examines the processes an individual undergoes from the onset of emotional distress to the stage of seeking professional help (Rogler & Cortez, 1993). Coping with ongoing emotional distress generally arouses the motivation to bring about relief. Fischer, Winer, and Abramowitz (1983) outlined five stages in the process of seeking help. In Stage 1, the individual recognizes that a problem exists and that it has or will have harmful consequences. In Stage 2, the individual reviews possibilities for resolving or reducing the problem. In Stage 3, the individual considering seeking help weighs the benefits and losses that turning to professional help is likely to incur. Although the individuals can benefit from professional help and as a result fulfill instrumental needs, seeking help is also associated with psychological costs that may prevent individuals