Assessing the Psychometric Proprieties of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF) Among Latino Adults

Assessment. 2021 Jan;28(1):211-224. doi: 10.1177/1073191119899470. Epub 2020 Jan 12.

Abstract

The Latino population continues to underutilize mental health services at an alarming rate. The Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF) is one of the most commonly used instruments to assess help-seeking attitudes. The current study sought to evaluate the factor structure and test for the presence of differential item functioning on the ATSPPH-SF with a sample of Latino adult individuals across nativity status (U.S.- vs. foreign-born), language format (English vs. Spanish), and gender. The analyses revealed two relatively independent factors named Openness to Seeking Treatment and Value and Need in Seeking Treatment. Measurement equivalence and practical implications are discussed in the context of use with Latino individuals.

Keywords: DIF; Latino/a; differential item functioning; help-seeking; measurement equivalence.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Language
  • Mental Health Services*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care*
  • Psychometrics