Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Dec 2021)
The Influence of COVID-19 Stress and Self-Concealment on Professional Help-Seeking Attitudes: A Cross-Sectional Study of University Students
Abstract
Vinh-Long Tran-Chi,1,2 Thanh-Thao Ly,1 Huyen-Trang Luu-Thi,1 Van-Son Huynh,1 My-Tien Nguyen-Thi1 1Faculty of Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 2Faculty of Education, Thu Dau Mot University, Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong Province, VietnamCorrespondence: My-Tien Nguyen-ThiFaculty of Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, VietnamTel +84 898 539 896Fax +84 583 818 343Email [email protected]: The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically influenced many aspects of individuals’ lives, putting the general population’s mental health at high risk, especially university students in Vietnam. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between current living status and COVID-19 stress and test whether COVID-19 stress mediates the effect of self-concealment on help-seeking attitudes among university students.Patients and Methods: A sample of 478 university students was recruited online to complete the survey. Parametric tests, correlation, regression, and simple mediation analyses were used to analyze the data.Results: Our results show that students living alone experience more COVID-19 stress levels than those living with family or friends. Additionally, there is a significant positive association between self-concealment and professional help-seeking attitudes that is partially mediated by COVID-19 stress. Individuals who tend to conceal personal information have high COVID-19 stress levels, leading to positive professional help-seeking attitudes.Conclusion: University administrators, social workers, counselors, clinicians, and therapists must consider students living alone as prioritized vulnerable groups for early mental health interventions. Clinicians should be aware of self-concealment and professional help-seeking attitudes that could influence psychological treatment.Keywords: COVID-19 stress, current living status, professional help-seeking attitudes, self-concealment, university students
