ADOLESCENT HELP-SEEKING - WHAT DO THEY GET HELP FOR AND FROM WHOM

A group of 1013 school-aged adolescents were asked to identify a problem which had caused them considerable distress during the last 6 months. They indicated the problem type, whether they asked for help, and if they asked, from whom help was sought. Respondents were also required to rate the intimacy, seriousness, and stigma attached to their problems as well as the degree to which they caused the problem. Most problems reflected family, interpersonal relationships, education, and health problems. The majority of adolescents chose to ask parents and friends for help while teachers and other professionals were also used. Sex and school year level were associated with different problem types. The perceptions of the problem characteristics also differed as a function of these factors and problem type. Help-seeking behaviour was found to be predicted by problem type and gender but not year level or problem characteristics. In contrast, the choice of the help sources was associated with ail four factors. Thus a relatively complex picture of adolescent help-seeking was found. Results are discussed in terms of relationships between adolescents and their peer and families. It is suggested that a social cognitive perspective could account for adolescents' decisions about getting help and from whom help is sought.