Assault, psychiatric diagnoses, and sociodemographic variables in relation to help-seeking behavior in a national sample of women

J Trauma Stress. 2005 Apr;18(2):97-105. doi: 10.1002/jts.20012.

Abstract

Using a national probability household sample of 4,008 women, we estimated the prevalence and correlates of formal and informal help seeking. One-year prevalences of formal help seeking (e.g., seeking help from professional) and informal help seeking (e.g., seeking help from a relative or friend) were 10.6 and 6.6%, respectively. In the final multivariable model, increased likelihood of informal help seeking was associated with younger age, history of sexual assault, and past-year diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode (MDE). Similarly, increased likelihood of formal help seeking was associated with younger age, Caucasian racial/ethnic status, history of sexual assault, history of physical assault, and past-year diagnoses of PTSD and MDE. Implications for helping professionals and public education programs are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Battered Women / psychology*
  • Battered Women / statistics & numerical data*
  • Crime Victims / psychology
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prevalence
  • Psychometrics
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Violence / psychology*
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data*