Changing perceptions of seeking help: A test of the effectiveness of an intervention video

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2009-01-01
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Kaplan, Scott
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David Vogel
Douglas Gentile
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Altmetrics
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Psychology
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an intervention video designed to promote positive associations with help seeking for mental health concerns. Participants were 290 undergraduates who were randomly assigned to a repeated exposure video intervention, a single exposure video intervention, or a control video condition. Participants completed measures pre-intervention, post-interventions, and at a six-week follow-up. The intervention repeated exposure group improved significantly more than the control group on help-seeking peer norms but not on the other outcome variables. The effect for peer norms was found at each time point, indicating both immediate and longer-term effects. The repeated exposure group also improved significantly more than the single exposure group on peer norms from pretest to Time 3. Effective, empirically supported interventions capable of reaching large numbers of people are necessary to help improve the under-utilization of mental health services. The present study offers some initial support for such theory-based video interventions for changing perceptions of normative behavior of seeking help.

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Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2009