The Relationship of Help-Seeking Inclinations to Traditional Predictors of Academic Success and First-Semester College GPA

Abstract

Inclination to seek help was measured among a cohort of first-time, full-time freshman at a private university prior to the start of their first semester. The item involved a 10-point scale defined with contrasting terms at each end (i.e. verbal anchors at the extremes). Approximately 78% of the respondents rated themselves 5 and below, indicating a general reluctance to seek help. Males were less likely to seek help than females. Help-seeking inclinations were positively correlated with academic performance in high school, as reflected in class rank, but negatively related to SAT scores. An interaction was observed, indicating that students with high SAT and low high school rank were especially reluctant to look for help. The relationship of help seeking predisposition to first semester college GPA was curvilinear, with the GPA rising with increasing proclivity to seek help until the highest level of help seeking, at which point it dropped.