Psychometric properties of the English and Filipino version of the inventory of attitudes towards seeking mental help services

• Main Authors: Tuliao, Antover P, Hechanova, Ma. Regina, Velasquez, Pocholo Andrew E
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2019
• Subjects: Philippines; attitudes towards seeking counselling; mental health service utilization; help-seeking; inventory of attitudes towards seeking mental help services; Clinical Psychology; Psychology
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/psychology-faculty-pubs/226; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21507686.2018.1552880
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This paper examined the psychometric properties of the Inventory of Attitudes Towards Seeking Mental Help (IASMHS) English and translated Filipino versions in a sample of Filipino college students and overseas migrant workers. The IASMHS three-factor solution was replicated (psychological openness, help-seeking propensity, and indifference to stigma) with both English and Filipino versions, but dropping items and adding residual covariances were needed to achieve requisites of a good model fit. Measurement invariance test indicated partial metric and scalar invariance across versions. Past use and intent to utilize mental health services were positively associated with help-seeking propensity factor, but not with psychological openness and indifference to stigma. Bivariate correlations among IASMHS factors and other help-seeking variables were also examined.