Differential attitudes of international students toward seeking professional psychological help

175 students representing 75 countries completed the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Help scale. Of the variance in total attitude, 23% was predicted from the variables age, sex, continent, educational level, time in US, and prior contact with mental health treatment. Prior contact and continent were the most important determinants, with Western (European + Latin) attitudes significantly more positive than non-Western (Asian + African). Three factors emerged: Confidence/Appropriateness, Stigma/Privacy, and Coping Alone. Prior contact subgroups were discriminated using the dimensions. The most highly significant factor was Confidence/Appropriateness, which suggests that Ss inexperienced with professional help perceived it as a nontrustworthy, inappropriate means for solving personal difficulties. Ss least concerned with the social stigma and invasion of privacy associated with treatment (the Stigma/Privacy dimension) were those who had received help in native countries. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).