Factors influencing mental health help-seeking behavior among Bangladeshi youth

Abstract

The present study explored the factors that influence help seeking behavior among Bangladeshi youths within the framework of Health Belief Model (HBM). In pursuit of the objective, a cross-sectional design was employed followed by the quantitative method in data collection technique. A total of 220 college and university students, aged between 18 to 26 years (M = 21.5, SD = 2.1) were the study participants who completed the ‘The Bangla Translated Version of Health Belief Scale’ (Salleby, 2000), ‘The Bangla version of Sherer’s General Self - efficacy Scale’ (Ilyas 2005), ‘The Bangla Version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support’ (MSPSS) (Islam, 2021), including ‘A 20 items Mental Health Knowledge Checklist’ and ‘The five items Mental Health Help Seeking Intention Checklist’ developed by the researchers. To analyze data, Pearson product moment correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results showed significant positive moderate relationship between help seeking intention and General Health Motivation (r = 0.22, p < 0.05), Perceived Severity (r = 0.29, p < 0.001), Perceived Benefits (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), Perceived Barriers (r = 0.25, p < 0.001), and Mental Health Knowledge (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). Regression analyses claimed Perceived Severity (β = 0.16, p < 0.05), Perceived Benefits (β = 0.20, p < 0.05), Perceived Barriers (β = 0.16, p < 0.05), and Mental Health Knowledge (β = 0.21, p <0.01) as significant predictors in help seeking behaviors. The findings offer valuable insights for designing targeted interventions and public health campaigns aimed at improving mental health literacy and reducing barriers to care among Bangladeshi youth.

Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 34(2): 139-148, 2025 (July)