TY - JOUR
T1 - Dimensionality, reliability, and predictive evidence of validity for three help-seeking intention instruments
T2 - ISCI, GHSQ, and MHSIS
AU - Hammer, Joseph H.
AU - Spiker, Douglas A.
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - People's intention to seek help from a mental health professional is thought to be the proximal cause of help-seeking behavior and thus is a dependent variable frequently measured by help-seeking researchers. Using a research design that accounted for actual future help-seeking behavior, the present study documented the dimensionality, internal consistency, and predictive evidence of validity of 3 intention instruments: the Intentions to Seek Counseling Inventory (ISCI), General Help Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ), and Mental Help-Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS). The sample was composed of 405 community-dwelling adults who self-identified as currently experiencing a mental health concern. Results provided support for the ISCI's 3-factor structure and the internal consistency of its 3 subscale scores. In contrast, the GHSQ did not demonstrate clear evidence of adequate measurement model fit or internal consistency in the present sample. Results also tentatively suggested that the 3-item MHSIS is a unidimensional instrument that produces an internally consistent total score with appropriate construct replicability. The ability of these instruments to predict who would seek help from a mental health professional in the next 3 months was also examined. The MHSIS demonstrated the strongest evidence of predictive validity (about 70% of participants were correctly classified), followed by the GHSQ and ISCI.
AB - People's intention to seek help from a mental health professional is thought to be the proximal cause of help-seeking behavior and thus is a dependent variable frequently measured by help-seeking researchers. Using a research design that accounted for actual future help-seeking behavior, the present study documented the dimensionality, internal consistency, and predictive evidence of validity of 3 intention instruments: the Intentions to Seek Counseling Inventory (ISCI), General Help Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ), and Mental Help-Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS). The sample was composed of 405 community-dwelling adults who self-identified as currently experiencing a mental health concern. Results provided support for the ISCI's 3-factor structure and the internal consistency of its 3 subscale scores. In contrast, the GHSQ did not demonstrate clear evidence of adequate measurement model fit or internal consistency in the present sample. Results also tentatively suggested that the 3-item MHSIS is a unidimensional instrument that produces an internally consistent total score with appropriate construct replicability. The ability of these instruments to predict who would seek help from a mental health professional in the next 3 months was also examined. The MHSIS demonstrated the strongest evidence of predictive validity (about 70% of participants were correctly classified), followed by the GHSQ and ISCI.
KW - Factor analysis
KW - Help seeking
KW - Intention
KW - Reliability
KW - Validity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045700431&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85045700431&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/cou0000256
DO - 10.1037/cou0000256
M3 - Article
C2 - 29672088
AN - SCOPUS:85045700431
SN - 0022-0167
VL - 65
SP - 394
EP - 401
JO - Journal of Counseling Psychology
JF - Journal of Counseling Psychology
IS - 3
ER -