02544nam a22002657a 4500 20231108122511.0 231106b ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d 0022-0167 RIEBPL Library 150.13 Spengler, Elliot S et al... Beyond the individual: Sexual minority help-seeking and the consequences of structural barriers. (Journal Article) Washington :American Psychological Association ,March 2023 133-145. p. American Psychological Association , Volume 70, Number 2 ***______{For Hard Copy, Please visit Library.}________*** Abstract- Sexual minorities report more psychological distress, unmet mental health needs, and barriers to mental health care compared with heterosexuals, yet little is known about their barriers to seeking out mental health care. The present study reports the factors that influence intentions to seek out mental health care of a national survey of 398 sexual minorities. Structural equation modeling identified structural barriers, such as cost, time, and knowing how to access services, as the strongest predictor of sexual minorities’ help-seeking intentions. Latent moderators indicated sexual minorities’ help-seeking intentions varied depending upon their degree of psychological distress. This revealed a pattern where the most vulnerable participants (i.e., those with high structural barriers and negative help-seeking attitudes) were willing to pursue mental health care only when they were experiencing significant distress. Furthermore, nearly 40% of participants reported unmet mental health needs, and structural barriers were the primary reasons for this deficit. Findings from this study contrast with previous mental health help-seeking research by emphasizing the importance of structural vulnerability, which refers to the external forces that frame and constrain choices, thereby impeding decision-making and limiting life options for those who are in systemically disadvantaged social positions. These findings are discussed in terms of counseling psychology training, practice, social justice advocacy, and future health care research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) Sexual Minority Help- Seeking Mental Health care Health Equity Treatment gap https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2023-36794-001.pdf PER 0 0 0 0 RIEBPL RIEBPL 2023-11-08 0 150.13 2023-11-08 00:00:00 2023-11-08 PER 44814 44813