The relationship between the personality trait locus of control and help-seeking behavior in persons with anxiety or depressive disorders

Abstract Background Help-seeking behavior in patients with psychological disorders may facilitate or hinder access to care. This study aims to determine the relationship between the personality trait locus of control (LOC) and help-seeking among people with anxiety and/or depressive disorders. Methods Cross-sectional data were derived from The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. In 1434 participants with a current depression and/or anxiety disorder help-seeking was measured by the Perceived Need for Care Questionnaire. LOC was measured by the Mastery scale. Results A more internal LOC orientation was associated with less help-seeking. In the group that did seek help, a more external LOC orientation was found to be associated with certain types of help, and with more types of help. After adding neuroticism or depressive symptom severity to the regression models, the predictive value of LOC for help-seeking was no longer significant. Conclusions This research shows that for people with anxiety and/or depressive disorders LOC orientation was associated with help-seeking. However, this association disappeared after adjusting for depressive symptom severity or neuroticism. As LOC, neuroticism, and depression are correlated and all three concepts are important for understanding patients' help-seeking behavior, it is worthwhile to further study them in concert in longitudinal designs.