Thesis
Social problem solving as a predictor of attitudes towards seeking psychological care and medical care among veterans
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
May 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4253
Abstract
Attitudes towards seeking health care, particularly mental health care, are significantly affected by stigma. Research has shown that increased levels of stigma contribute to more negative attitudes about seeking health care, and less willingness to seek care. Stigma surrounding mental health care is a particularly poignant issue for military Veterans. Military culture encourages the attitudes of self-sufficiency and toughness, often yielding to increased perceptions of stigma surrounding seeking health care. Importantly, more and more Veterans are returning home from war in need of health care services, particularly mental health care. Social problem solving has been shown to play a significant mediating role in the stress-distress relationship, with poorer problem solving abilities correlating with significant distress in the face of a stressor, such as an illness. The present study aimed to investigate whether social problem solving plays a role in perceptions of stigma, and subsequent attitudes towards seeking both psychological care and medical care among Veterans. It was hypothesized that the adaptive problem solving domains of positive problem orientation (PPO) and rational problem solving style (RPS) would be associated with less stigma and more willingness to seek psychological care and medical care, whereas the maladaptive domains of negative problem orientation (NPO), impulsive/careless style (ICS), and avoidant style (AS) would be associated with greater stigma and less willingness to seek both types of care. It was also hypothesized that social problem solving would predict attitudes towards seeking care. The sample consisted of 118 male and female Veterans between the ages of 21 and 75 years. Participants were asked to complete a series of questionnaires: the Social Problem-Solving Inventory - Revised: short form (SPSI-R), Military Stigma Scale (MSS), Inventory of Attitudes Towards Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS), and Attitudes Towards Seeking Medical Care Scale (ASMCS). As hypothesized, negative problem orientation was negatively correlated with both IASMHS and ASMCS total scores, impulsive/careless style and avoidant style were negatively correlated with ASMCS total score, and rational problem solving style was positively correlated with ASMCS total. Additionally, social problem solving was found to be a significant predictor of psychological openness, a subscale of the IASMHS assessing the extent to which one is open about recognizing a problem and seeking help for that difficulty. These findings suggest that programs aimed at improving social problem solving skills may help Veterans seek necessary care.
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Details
- Title
- Social problem solving as a predictor of attitudes towards seeking psychological care and medical care among veterans
- Creators
- Andrea Gail Segal - DU
- Contributors
- Christine M. Nezu (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 4253; 991014632840404721