Psycho-demographic predictors of psychological help-seeking behaviour of undergraduates

• Main Authors: Oladipo S.E., Oyenuga, T.O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) 2013-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Development and Sustainability
• Subjects: Help-seeking; Undergraduates; Professionals; Psychological help
• Online Access: http://isdsnet.com/ijds-v2n2-18.pdf
• ISSN: 2186-8662; 2186-8662

The present study examined locus of control, self-esteem and gender as factors of professional psychological help-seeking behaviour of undergraduates. The study adopted an ex-post facto descriptive survey research design, and a total of 325 Participants were systematically randomly selected from the population of undergraduates in a state university in the western part of Nigeria.178 of them were males and 147 females, 268 Christians, 52 Muslims and 5 belonging to other forms of religions. Age of participants ranged between 16 – 30 years with a mean age of 22.05 and a standard deviation of 2.275. Samples were limited to students who were either in their second or third year in the university (first year and final year students were left out). Validated self-reported measures were used for data collection and three hypotheses were tested in the study. Significant positive correlation existed among the variables (p<.001, r = .216**; .388** and .253**); Locus of control and self-esteem both significantly independently and jointly predicted psychological help-seeking among students ((locus of control: β = .38, F = 56.75, p < .01; self-esteem: β = .34, F = 35.55, p < .01; self-esteem and locus of control β = .33, F = 46.45, p < .01). However, gender was not a significant predictor of psychological help-seeking among students. (Mean = 51.39, 51.48; df =323, t=-.066, p>.05).