Clinical Gerontologist ( IF 2.8 ) Pub Date : 2022-04-10 , DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2022.2058440 Corey S Mackenzie 1 , Lily Pankratz 1
ABSTRACT
Objectives
Older adults are the least likely age group to seek mental health services. However, few studies have explored a comprehensive range of sociodemographic, psychological, and social barriers and facilitators to seeking treatment in later life.
Methods
A cross-sectional, national sample of Canadian older adults (55+, N = 2,745) completed an online survey including reliable and valid measures of predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics, based on Andersen’s behavioral model of health, as well as self-reported use of mental health services. Univariate and hierarchical logistic regressions predicted past 5-year mental health service use.
Results
Mental health service use was most strongly and consistently associated with greater perceived need (OR = 11.48) and mental health literacy (OR = 2.16). Less self-stigma of seeking help (OR = .65) and greater neuroticism (OR = 1.57) also predicted help-seeking in our final model, although their effects were not as strong or consistent across gender, marital status, and age subgroups.
Conclusions
The need category was crucial to seeking help, but predisposing psychological factors were also significant barriers to treatment.
Clinical Implications
Interventions that target older adults high in neuroticism by improving perceptions of need for treatment, mental health literacy, and self-stigma of seeking help may be particularly effective ways of improving access to mental health services.
中文翻译:
感知需求、心理健康素养、神经质和自我污名预测老年人心理健康服务的使用
摘要
目标
老年人是最不可能寻求心理健康服务的年龄组。然而,很少有研究探讨全面的社会人口、心理和社会障碍以及在晚年寻求治疗的促进因素。
方法
加拿大老年人(55 岁以上,N = 2,745)的横断面全国样本完成了一项在线调查,包括基于安徒生的健康行为模型以及自我报告使用心理健康服务。单变量和分层逻辑回归预测过去 5 年的心理健康服务使用情况。
结果
心理健康服务的使用与更大的感知需求(OR = 11.48)和心理健康素养(OR = 2.16)最强烈且始终相关。在我们的最终模型中,较少的寻求帮助的自我污名 (OR = .65) 和较大的神经质 (OR = 1.57) 也预示着寻求帮助,尽管它们的影响在性别、婚姻状况和年龄亚组中并不那么强烈或一致。
结论
需求类别对于寻求帮助至关重要,但诱发心理因素也是治疗的重大障碍。
临床意义
通过改善对治疗需求、心理健康素养和寻求帮助的自我污名的认知,针对神经质高的老年人的干预措施可能是改善获得心理健康服务的特别有效的方法。