Predictors of psychological difficulties and professional psychological help-seeking in Serbian youth
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The aim of this study is to explore the predictors of psychological difficulties (PD) of
youth from the general population in Serbia, and to investigate the predictors of
professional psychological help-seeking (PPHS) in the sub-sample of youth with clinically
indicative symptoms of at least one mental disorder measured. A total sample consisted
of 231 participants from 18 to 30 years of age (Mage=24.48, SDage=3.37, 47% males)
recruited by a market research agency. Symptoms of ten disorders were measured – depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Screener-7), suicidal ideation (Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale), mania (Altman SelfRating Mania Scale), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD; Obsessive-Compulsive
Inventory-Revised), somatization (Somatic Symptom – Adult Patient), eating disorders
(The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD;
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and Life Events Che...cklist for DSM-5),
dissociation (Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale), and prodromal symptoms (The
Prodromal Questionnaire – Brief Version). Moreover, variables depicting demographic
(gender, age), economic (socio-economic status), neighborhood (urbanity of
settlement), environmental (traumatic experiences – Life Events Checklist for DSM-5),
and social/cultural (social support – Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support,
education) domains, along with personal factors (coping strategies – Brief COPE,
resilience – The Brief Resilience Scale) were collected. To explore PPHS, common
barriers to care (Perceived Stigma and Barriers to Care) and experience with persons
with mental health (MH) difficulties (The Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale) were
assessed, while PPHS was measured by a single item (Have you ever sought professional
psychological help?). A joint variable was computed, encompassing the PD experienced
by each participant (i.e. a total number of screen-positive scores on measures of
symptoms of mental disorders). The first regression model explained 44% of the
variance of PD (R2adj=.44, F(7,223)=26.410, p=.000), with significant predictors being
rural settlement (β=-.12, p=.017), previous traumatic experiences (β=.26, p=.000), lack of
social support (β=-.32, p=.000), avoidant coping (β=.17, p=.021), and less pronounced
resilience (β=-.17, p=.003). The second regression model was tested on a sub-sample of
youth with clinically indicative symptoms of at least one mental disorder measured
(N=94), with the criteria being lifetime PPHS. The model explained 26% of PPHS
(R2adj=.26, F(4,89)=9.143, p=.000), showing that PPHS is less likely sought by males (β=-
.30, p=.002), those having less experience with persons with MH difficulties (β=-.24,
p=.019) and lacking information on where to get help (β=.25, p=.020). This study adds to
the understanding of the MH of youth in Serbia and is discussed in terms of implications
for comprehensive service provision.
Keywords:
youth / mental health / psychological difficulties / mental disorders / professional psychological help-seekingSource:
Book of abstracts, Current trends in psychology, Novi Sad, october 26-28, 2023, 96-97Publisher:
- Filozofski fakultet Novi sad
Institution/Community
Psihologija / PsychologyTY - CONF AU - Dimoski, Jana AU - Stojadinović, Irena AU - Vukčević Marković, Maša PY - 2023 UR - http://reff.f.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5399 AB - The aim of this study is to explore the predictors of psychological difficulties (PD) of youth from the general population in Serbia, and to investigate the predictors of professional psychological help-seeking (PPHS) in the sub-sample of youth with clinically indicative symptoms of at least one mental disorder measured. A total sample consisted of 231 participants from 18 to 30 years of age (Mage=24.48, SDage=3.37, 47% males) recruited by a market research agency. Symptoms of ten disorders were measured – depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener-7), suicidal ideation (Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale), mania (Altman SelfRating Mania Scale), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD; Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised), somatization (Somatic Symptom – Adult Patient), eating disorders (The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and Life Events Checklist for DSM-5), dissociation (Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale), and prodromal symptoms (The Prodromal Questionnaire – Brief Version). Moreover, variables depicting demographic (gender, age), economic (socio-economic status), neighborhood (urbanity of settlement), environmental (traumatic experiences – Life Events Checklist for DSM-5), and social/cultural (social support – Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, education) domains, along with personal factors (coping strategies – Brief COPE, resilience – The Brief Resilience Scale) were collected. To explore PPHS, common barriers to care (Perceived Stigma and Barriers to Care) and experience with persons with mental health (MH) difficulties (The Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale) were assessed, while PPHS was measured by a single item (Have you ever sought professional psychological help?). A joint variable was computed, encompassing the PD experienced by each participant (i.e. a total number of screen-positive scores on measures of symptoms of mental disorders). The first regression model explained 44% of the variance of PD (R2adj=.44, F(7,223)=26.410, p=.000), with significant predictors being rural settlement (β=-.12, p=.017), previous traumatic experiences (β=.26, p=.000), lack of social support (β=-.32, p=.000), avoidant coping (β=.17, p=.021), and less pronounced resilience (β=-.17, p=.003). The second regression model was tested on a sub-sample of youth with clinically indicative symptoms of at least one mental disorder measured (N=94), with the criteria being lifetime PPHS. The model explained 26% of PPHS (R2adj=.26, F(4,89)=9.143, p=.000), showing that PPHS is less likely sought by males (β=- .30, p=.002), those having less experience with persons with MH difficulties (β=-.24, p=.019) and lacking information on where to get help (β=.25, p=.020). This study adds to the understanding of the MH of youth in Serbia and is discussed in terms of implications for comprehensive service provision. PB - Filozofski fakultet Novi sad C3 - Book of abstracts, Current trends in psychology, Novi Sad, october 26-28 T1 - Predictors of psychological difficulties and professional psychological help-seeking in Serbian youth EP - 97 SP - 96 UR - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_5399 ER -
@conference{ author = "Dimoski, Jana and Stojadinović, Irena and Vukčević Marković, Maša", year = "2023", abstract = "The aim of this study is to explore the predictors of psychological difficulties (PD) of youth from the general population in Serbia, and to investigate the predictors of professional psychological help-seeking (PPHS) in the sub-sample of youth with clinically indicative symptoms of at least one mental disorder measured. A total sample consisted of 231 participants from 18 to 30 years of age (Mage=24.48, SDage=3.37, 47% males) recruited by a market research agency. Symptoms of ten disorders were measured – depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener-7), suicidal ideation (Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale), mania (Altman SelfRating Mania Scale), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD; Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised), somatization (Somatic Symptom – Adult Patient), eating disorders (The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and Life Events Checklist for DSM-5), dissociation (Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale), and prodromal symptoms (The Prodromal Questionnaire – Brief Version). Moreover, variables depicting demographic (gender, age), economic (socio-economic status), neighborhood (urbanity of settlement), environmental (traumatic experiences – Life Events Checklist for DSM-5), and social/cultural (social support – Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, education) domains, along with personal factors (coping strategies – Brief COPE, resilience – The Brief Resilience Scale) were collected. To explore PPHS, common barriers to care (Perceived Stigma and Barriers to Care) and experience with persons with mental health (MH) difficulties (The Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale) were assessed, while PPHS was measured by a single item (Have you ever sought professional psychological help?). A joint variable was computed, encompassing the PD experienced by each participant (i.e. a total number of screen-positive scores on measures of symptoms of mental disorders). The first regression model explained 44% of the variance of PD (R2adj=.44, F(7,223)=26.410, p=.000), with significant predictors being rural settlement (β=-.12, p=.017), previous traumatic experiences (β=.26, p=.000), lack of social support (β=-.32, p=.000), avoidant coping (β=.17, p=.021), and less pronounced resilience (β=-.17, p=.003). The second regression model was tested on a sub-sample of youth with clinically indicative symptoms of at least one mental disorder measured (N=94), with the criteria being lifetime PPHS. The model explained 26% of PPHS (R2adj=.26, F(4,89)=9.143, p=.000), showing that PPHS is less likely sought by males (β=- .30, p=.002), those having less experience with persons with MH difficulties (β=-.24, p=.019) and lacking information on where to get help (β=.25, p=.020). This study adds to the understanding of the MH of youth in Serbia and is discussed in terms of implications for comprehensive service provision.", publisher = "Filozofski fakultet Novi sad", journal = "Book of abstracts, Current trends in psychology, Novi Sad, october 26-28", title = "Predictors of psychological difficulties and professional psychological help-seeking in Serbian youth", pages = "97-96", url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_5399" }
Dimoski, J., Stojadinović, I.,& Vukčević Marković, M.. (2023). Predictors of psychological difficulties and professional psychological help-seeking in Serbian youth. in Book of abstracts, Current trends in psychology, Novi Sad, october 26-28 Filozofski fakultet Novi sad., 96-97. https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_5399
Dimoski J, Stojadinović I, Vukčević Marković M. Predictors of psychological difficulties and professional psychological help-seeking in Serbian youth. in Book of abstracts, Current trends in psychology, Novi Sad, october 26-28. 2023;:96-97. https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_5399 .
Dimoski, Jana, Stojadinović, Irena, Vukčević Marković, Maša, "Predictors of psychological difficulties and professional psychological help-seeking in Serbian youth" in Book of abstracts, Current trends in psychology, Novi Sad, october 26-28 (2023):96-97, https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_5399 .