Perceived control moderates the internalized stigma model of seeking mental health services in distressed older adults.

Older adults are especially unlikely to seek mental health services, and internalized stigma is a key reason why. However, little research has investigated which older adults are particularly likely to have stigma influence help-seeking. To address this, we tested whether perceived control (PC) moderates an internalized stigma model in which public stigma is internalized as self-stigma, which negatively predicts help-seeking attitudes and help-seeking intentions. We employed moderated mediation analysis of cross-sectional, secondary data from 348 psychologically distressed Canadian adults aged 65 years and older. Participants completed an online survey that included measures of public stigma of help-seeking, self-stigma of help-seeking, help-seeking attitudes, conditional help-seeking intentions, psychological distress, and PC. PC emerged as a moderator of the internalized stigma model. Those lower in PC were more likely to have public stigma negatively predict help-seeking intentions through the serial mediation of (a) self-stigma and (b) help-seeking attitudes. Further, those lower in PC were more likely to have public stigma internalized as self-stigma and more likely to have negative help-seeking attitudes predict lower help-seeking intentions. Finally, those lower in PC also had lower help-seeking intentions in the face of low levels of self-stigma. These results contribute to a nuanced understanding of which older adults are unlikely to seek help. Identifying PC as a moderator of the internalized stigma model suggests that interventions that enhance PC should protect against public stigma's internalization and improve help-seeking behaviors for older adults who need such help. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Adjustment and acceptance beliefs in achievement settings: Implications for student wellbeing.

Research suggests that when dealing with personal setbacks, secondary control (SC) adjustment and acceptance beliefs can foster psychological wellbeing. However, little research has examined these beliefs, in combination, and how they impact students in their academic development. We conducted secondary analysis using an eight-month longitudinal study design over a two-semester introductory course on a sample of university students (n = 237; 64% female; M age = 19 years old). Multiple regression analyses assessed whether the students' Semester 1 adjustment and acceptance SC beliefs influenced Semester 2 learning-related emotions, perceived stress, and perceived course success, and whether Adjustment x Acceptance interactions emerged involving these outcomes. Adjustment beliefs promoted learning-related positive emotions (hope, pride), perceived course success, and reduced perceived stress; acceptance predicted higher shame and perceived stress. Students' adjustment predicted lower helplessness for students with high acceptance beliefs. These findings are discussed in light of the role that SC beliefs might play in curbing psychological distress reported by students on postsecondary campuses.