Help-seeking attitudes, locus of control, and emotional expressivity in Hong Kong and Western people

Abstract

The current study investigated whether the relationship between help-seeking attitudes and locus of control varied across Hong Kong and Western people. The relationship between help-seeking and locus of control was examined with consideration of emotional expressivity, age, sex, and ethnicity. 83 Hong Kong locals and 79 Westerners were asked to complete the Inventory of Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services, Rotter’s Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, and Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire. The results show that Hong Kong locals have less positive help-seeking attitudes compared with Western people. Internal locus of control and high emotional expressiveness can indicate positive help-seeking attitudes. Nevertheless, locus of control is a stronger indicator for Western people than for Hong Kong people.