Mental Health Services Use Intentions Among Canadian Military Recruits |
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| Authors: | Jennifer E. C. Lee Deniz Fikretoglu Ann-Renée Blais Kerry A. Sudom Erin Beatty |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis and Directorate of Force Health Protection, Department of National Defence, Ontario, Canadajennifer.lee@forces.gc.ca;3. Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Ontario, Canada;4. Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis, Department of National Defence, Ontario, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Identifying the factors associated with mental health services use (MHSU) is an important step in developing strategies to improve services access and delivery. The aims of the present study were to (a) identify personality and individual difference characteristics associated with MHSU intentions within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and (b) explore complex relationships that might exist between these characteristics and determinants of MHSU intentions identified in TPB, including attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Data for 244 Canadian Armed Forces recruits who completed a MHSU questionnaire following mental health training were linked to personality data collected earlier. Multivariate analyses showed that the relationship between agreeableness and MHSU intentions was mediated by instrumental attitudes and subjective norms. The relationship between hardiness and MHSU intentions was mediated by subjective norms and self-efficacy. Findings suggest it may be worthwhile to consider mental health education initiatives to improve MHSU. |
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| Keywords: | mental health services use personality individual differences theory of planned behavior |
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