Stigma, racial microaggressions, and acculturation strategies as predictors of likelihood to seek counseling among black college students

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study:

This study looks at Black college student's perceptions of the stigma of counseling, as related to psychological help seeking. Specifically, psychological help seeking will be studied by looking at level of acculturation and perceived racial microaggressions in counseling. One hundred and ten (36 male and 74 female) participants were recruited from four Midwestern universities. Ninety-six identified as Black (i.e. African American, Afro-Caribbean, African, etc.), twelve identified as Biracial (Black and other race), and two did not indicate their race. Participants completed four questionnaires and one demographic questionnaire in a classroom setting.

Findings and Conclusions: Analysis of the data revealed that there was not a significant relationship found between stigma of counseling and level of acculturation. There was not a significant difference in the stigma scores for participants who had counseling experience and those who had no counseling experience. For participants who had prior counseling experience racial microaggressions and traditionalist values predicted intensions to seek counseling. For participants without counseling experience counseling stigma and acculturation strategies did not predict intentions to seek counseling. Reported levels of counseling stigma from this sample of Black college students is low; however, racial microaggressions still seem to be a barrier to seeking counseling services.