TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing Self-Stigma of Help-Seeking in Student Veterans
T2 - A Psychometric Validation Study
AU - Eagle, Daniel R.
AU - Iwanaga, Kanako
AU - Kaya, Cahit
AU - Muller, Veronica
AU - Lee, Beatrice
AU - Rumrill, Stuart
AU - Chiu, Chung Yi
AU - Tansey, Timothy N.
AU - Chan, Fong
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Taylor & Francis.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Transition from regimented military life to a less structured college life can pose considerable challenges for student veterans. However, student veterans may be reluctant to seek psychological help because of the help-seeking stigma in the military culture. The present study investigated the measurement structure, reliability, and validity of the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale in a sample of student veterans in the United States. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor measurement structure: (a) feeling of inadequacy, and (b) threat to self-confidence with relevant internal consistency reliability and construct validity. In the present study, feeling of inadequacy was found to be associated with interpersonal relationship problems, alcohol, and drug use problems, and depression, while threat to self-confidence was found to be associated with alcohol and drug use problems only. Implications for outreach services and the use of positive psychology interventions to lessen the stigma associated with seeking help are discussed.
AB - Transition from regimented military life to a less structured college life can pose considerable challenges for student veterans. However, student veterans may be reluctant to seek psychological help because of the help-seeking stigma in the military culture. The present study investigated the measurement structure, reliability, and validity of the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale in a sample of student veterans in the United States. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor measurement structure: (a) feeling of inadequacy, and (b) threat to self-confidence with relevant internal consistency reliability and construct validity. In the present study, feeling of inadequacy was found to be associated with interpersonal relationship problems, alcohol, and drug use problems, and depression, while threat to self-confidence was found to be associated with alcohol and drug use problems only. Implications for outreach services and the use of positive psychology interventions to lessen the stigma associated with seeking help are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1080/87568225.2020.1806163
DO - 10.1080/87568225.2020.1806163
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85089689644
JO - Journal of College Student Psychotherapy
JF - Journal of College Student Psychotherapy
SN - 8756-8225
ER -