(PS5-B43) Predicting Treatment Seeking Intent in Black and White Americans

Much of the work on variables related to treatment seeking intent (TSI)  have used White samples, even though Black individuals are known to utilize mental health treatment at lower rates than White individuals (Neely-Fairbank et al., 2018). Lower rates of the utilization of services have been shown to be a result of stigma related to addressing mental health concerns (Brown et al., 2010). More specifically, perceived stigma and indifference to stigma can negatively impact attitudes toward treatment seeking, as measured by TSI and help seeking propensity (HSP), at least in primarily White samples (Fripp & Carlson, 2017; Mackenzie et al., 2004; Pattyn et al., 2014). Access barriers, such as financial challenges, contribute to low utilization rates of mental health services among Black individuals (Chow et al., 2003; Tambling et al., 2021). Little research has compared the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and treatment seeking attitudes between White and Black Americans, in tandem with stigma. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships of race, SES and stigmas with treatment seeking attitudes. It was hypothesized that 1) race differences will exist for perceived stigma and indifference to stigma; 2) SES differences will exist for both stigmas and TSI, but not HSP; 3) perceived stigma and indifference to stigma will significantly predict TSI in Black individuals; 4) indifference to stigma will moderate the relationship between SES and TSI for Black participants. 

Our sample of 387 participants had 52% who identified as (primarily) Black or African-American and 48% as (primarily) White. Nearly 80% identified as female, with 0.5 % identifying as nonbinary. The age range was from 18-78.  Measures included the Perceived Stigma and Indifference to Stigma scales, the Help-Seeking Propensity subscale of the IASMHS, and single-item Treatment Seeking Intent item.

Both race groups had no significant differences in either type of stigma, but Black participants had significantly higher levels of TSI (p< .05) than White counterparts. When combining both races into one sample, there were significant differences across the 4 levels of SES. HSP was significantly higher for those in the highest SES than in the lowest SES. Contrary to hypotheses and past literature, neither stigma type nor TSI was significantly different across SES levels. Indifference to Stigma, was a significant predictor of TSI in Black participants, while Perceive Stigma did not add significantly to the model.  Finally, SES was not a predictor of TSI for Black participants, thus no moderation analysis was conducted.

               The lack of consistent replication of findings from past literature has many potential implications. Most importantly, the common conception that stigma negatively impacts treatment seeking intent was not upheld in this study. Most participants indicated high levels of willingness to seek treatment. Rather than focusing on stigma, interventions for encouraging service utilization by Black Americans should address other areas; for example, ways to find practitioners who are culturally empathic.