Military and veteran help-seeking behaviors: Role of mental health stigma and leadership
McGuffin, J. J., Riggs, S. A., Raiche, E. M., & Romero, D. H. (2021). Military and veteran help-seeking behaviors: Role of mental health
stigma and leadership. Military Psychology, 33(5), 332-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2021.1962181
Abstract Created by REACH
Stigma is a common barrier to help-seeking behaviors for Service members/Veterans
(SM/Vs) with mental health symptoms. Using a sample of 232 SM/Vs from a larger study, this study examined
the associations of military superiors’ destructive leadership (e.g., embarrassing SM/Vs) and supportive
leadership (e.g., concern for SM/Vs’ safety), as well as SM/Vs’ perceived public stigma (e.g., being viewed as
weak), internalized self-stigma (e.g., reduced self-confidence), and help-seeking behaviors. The study also
examined differences in help-seeking behaviors based on military branch. Overall, destructive leadership
was associated with SM/Vs experiencing more internalized self-stigma, which, in turn, was associated with
fewer help-seeking behaviors. By contrast, supportive leadership was associated with less self-stigma and
more help-seeking behaviors.
Abstract
Mental health stigma has been identified as a barrier to help-seeking in the United States. This may be particularly salient for military personnel who tend to report higher mental health stigma than the general population. Evidence suggests that both supportive and destructive military leadership are related to service members’ attitudes toward seeking help. In the current study, a sample of military service members and Veterans (N = 232) completed an online survey regarding mental health stigma, previous experiences with military leaders, and mental health help-seeking behaviors. Findings indicated that destructive and supportive leadership experiences were significantly related to self stigma, public stigma, and help-seeking. Military members and Veterans who experienced destructive leadership were more likely to report internalized mental health stigma, which decreased the likelihood of seeking help. Supportive leadership, on the other hand, was associated with greater likelihood of seeking help for mental health concerns, and was indirectly related to help-seeking through lower self-stigma. Findings suggest that the military leadership style plays a significant role in service members’ and Veterans’ willingness to seek assistance for mental health concerns.
Research summaries convey terminology used by the scientists who authored the original research article; some terminology may not align with the federal government's mandated language for certain constructs.
Cookie Preferences
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Please review our Privacy Statement for more information.
Necessary cookies: Essential for the website to function properly.
Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website.