Japanese college students' attitudes toward professional psychological services: The role of cultural self-construal and self-concealment'

The utilization of professional help is affected by individual factors such as help-seeking attitudes and self- concealment as well as the availability of mental health services. The present study examined the role of cultural self-construal and self- concealment on attitudes toward professional psychological services. A survey was conducted with 214 Japanese college students. Multiple regression analyses found that interdependent self-construal significantly predicted the Recognition of Need for Psychological Services. Self- concealment was predictive of two different facets of help-seeking attitudes: Interpersonal Openness and Stigma Tolerance. Future studies are recommended to refine the model that was tested.