Predictors of treatment acceptability, willingness to see a counselor, and counselor preferences for Asian Americans and Whites : acculturation, loss of face, self-construals, and collective self-esteem /

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to increase knowledge regarding barriers to utilization of mental health services by Asian Americans through examination of the influence of cultural factors on counseling variables with Asian American college students.To that end, this study explored three previously unexamined or underexamined barriers to use of counseling services by Asian Americans.It was hypothesized that between-groups comparisons on the three dependent variables of treatment acceptability, willingness to see a counselor, and counselor preferences would help answer the question of whether these were barriers to utilization for Asian Americans, as compared to Whites.In addition, within-group comparisons were designed to address the question of how these barriers manifested for Asian Americans.Four variables culturally-relevant for Asian Americans were examined in terms of their relationship to each of the barriers to counseling.Specifically, the cultural variables in this study were: level of acculturation, sensitivity to loss of face, independent versus interdependent construals of the self, and collective self-esteem (how individuals feel about their membership in the racial/ethnic groups to which they belong).The counseling variables were treatment acceptability ratings for four types of treatments (individual c(%nitive-behavioral therapy, individual n * This was changed to "White racial idaatity attitudes" for White participants * * This was modified ftH* White participants to reflect dieir participation 196