External shame as a mediator in the relationship between self stigma and help-seeking intention among college students with depressive symptoms

• Main Author: Crisostomo, Iris Lapak
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Subjects: Depression in adolescence > Case studies > Philippines > Metro Manila; Depression in adolescence > Diagnosis > Philippines > Metro Manila
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5320
• Institution: De La Salle University

Depression is a growing concern among college students as it may cause academic impairment and a risk factor in suicide. Depression among college students are contributed by transition from home to college place and life stressors such as mastery of new skills with increased time demands. The present study investigated the mediating role of external shame in the relationship of self-stigma and help-seeking intentions. The present study hypothesized that external shame from family and external shame from others mediate the relationship of self-stigma and help-seeking intentions. The present study also hypothesized that gender (male) and socioeconomic status (low socio-economic status) significantly predict help-seeking intentions and that self-stigma mediates these relationships. Four hundred forty eight (448) college students purposively sampled from the 17 universities and 3 colleges within Metro Manila were asked to complete an online survey. A structural equation model was used in order to conduct mediation analysis. Results showed that there is a significant inverse relationship between self-stigma and help-seeking intention and that it is mediated by external shame from family and external shame from others. Only external shame from others showed significant mediation in this relationship. Gender and socio economic status did not predict help-seeking intention and these relationships were not mediated by self stigma. The present study concludes that external factors such as shame endorsed by others towards college students significantly influence their negative perception about their condition which then leads to less chances of seeking help. College students help-seeking intention is not determined by their gender and their family income. Depression awareness program is needed among college and university campuses with all college students, professors and parents as target audience in order to increase likelihood of help-seeking among college students experiencing depressive symptoms.