ABSTRACT

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.

摘要

从严格的军事生活过渡到结构较少的大学生活可能会给学生退伍军人带来相当大的挑战。然而，由于军事文化中的求助污名，学生退伍军人可能不愿意寻求心理帮助。本研究调查了美国学生退伍军人样本中寻求帮助的自我污名量表的测量结构、信度和效度。探索性因素分析揭示了一个双因素测量结构：(a) 不足的感觉，和 (b) 对自信的威胁以及相关的内部一致性信度和结构效度。在本研究中，发现不足感与人际关系问题、酗酒和吸毒问题以及抑郁症有关，而对自信心的威胁被发现仅与酗酒和吸毒问题有关。讨论了外展服务的意义以及使用积极心理学干预来减少与寻求帮助相关的污名。