Predictors of Professional Help-Seeking Intentions in Sri Lankan Young Adults

Abstract

Despite a noticeable decline in mental health among youth in Sri Lanka, many remain reluctant to seek help from trained professionals. This cross-sectional study applies the theory of planned behaviour to examine the psychological determinants of professional help-seeking intentions among Sri Lankan young adults, with a focus on how its core components—attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control—contribute to intention formation. An online questionnaire consisting of the Mental Health Seeking Attitude Scale (MHSAS), Subjective Norms Scale (SNS), Perceived Behavioural Control Scale (PBCS) and Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS) was administered to a predominantly female, English-speaking sample of 155 participants aged between 18 – 35. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed a statistically significant model which accounted for 13.2% of the variance in professional helpseeking intentions among this sample. However, subjective norms failed to account for a significant increase in the variance explained by the model after controlling for attitudes and perceived behavioural control. These findings highlight the importance of targeting attitudes and perceived control in interventions aimed at augmenting professional help-seeking intentions among youth. Authorities shouldalso prioritize culturally tailored mental health campaigns that could empower youth while reducing the stigma around professional support.