EPV697 - Determinants of Seeking Psychiatric Help: Insights from a Community Sample

EPV697

Determinants of Seeking Psychiatric Help: Insights from a Community Sample

S. Andric Petrovic¹^2,*, U. Matic¹, N. P. Maric¹²

¹University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, ²Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade, Serbia

Introduction: Seeking psychiatric help is influenced by complex interplay of psychosocial factors. Previous research highlights the role of sociodemographic and personality traits, while empathy and emotional distress may further shape individuals’ likelihood of engaging with mental health services. Identifying these predictors is essential to improve access and guide interventions.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, personality, empathy, and depression/anxiety symptom severity predictors of intention to seek psychiatric help in a large community sample.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1,021 adults completed an anonymous online survey assessing sociodemographics (age, sex, education, marital status, employment), depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms, overall empathy (via the Empathy Quotient), and six personality traits (HEXACO-60). Help-seeking intention was assessed as a binary variable (“Would you seek help from a psychiatrist if needed?”), and binary logistic regression identified predictors.

Results: Among 1,021 participants (mean age 28.3±12.2; 76.7% female; 56.8% high school graduates/students), 94.9% indicated they would seek psychiatric help if needed (59.0% willingly, 32.6% if absolutely necessary, 3.3% if friends/family insisted), and 5.1% would not. Logistic regression identified significant predictors of help-seeking: female sex (B=1.611, p<0.001, OR=5.009), higher education (high school: B=1.048, p=0.009, OR=2.85; college: B=2.017, p=0.002, OR=7.515), student status (B=1.133, p=0.009, OR=3.104), higher empathy (B=0.168, p=0.001, OR=1.183), Emotionality (B=0.583, p=0.036, OR=1.791), and Openness to experience (B=0.733, p=0.001, OR=2.081). Other personality traits, marital status, and depression/anxiety symptom severity were not significant. The model explained 34.2% of variance (Nagelkerke R²=0.342), showed good fit (Hosmer–Lemeshow χ²(8)=6.27, p=0.617), and correctly classified 95% of participants.

Conclusions: In this community sample, help-seeking intention was strongly shaped by sociodemographic and psychological factors. Females were five times more likely than males to seek psychiatric help, and higher education increased likelihood up to sevenfold. Beyond sociodemographic influences, greater empathy, Emotionality, and Openness to experience were all associated with an increased likelihood of help-seeking, whereas other personality traits, marital status, and depressive/anxiety symptoms severity were not unrelated. These findings highlight psychosocial and personality factors as key targets to improve engagement with psychiatric services.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared