2019 Volume 67 Issue 4 Pages 278-288
The present study explored differences between 3 help-seeking styles: self-directed help-seeking, excessive help-seeking, and avoidance help-seeking. Questionnaires were completed by university students. In Study 1, the degree of concern, social support, depression, and anticipated costs and benefits of help-seeking were measured; in Study 2, the experience of being worried, affiliation motives, and autonomy were measured. Useable results for Study 1 were obtained from 233 men and 409 women at 3 universities, and, for Study 2, from 271 men and 629 women at 5 universities. Although those respondents who were classified as having an excessive help-seeking style reported higher social support, they also reported higher depression and sensitivity to rejection, and lower independence. In addition, although those who were classified as having an avoidance help-seeking style reported higher independence, they also reported higher depression, and lower social support and self-determination. These results suggest that an excessive help-seeking style and an avoidance help-seeking style may have both positive and negative aspects.
