Mental Health Service Seeking Among Korean International Students in the United States: A Path Analysis

South Koreans represent the third largest group of international students in the United States, yet little is known about their help‐seeking behaviors, nor how these behaviors might be influenced by Asian cultural values. The purpose of this study is to (a) explore the effects of public stigma, self‐stigma, and attitudes associated with seeking counseling services on the relationship between cultural values and willingness to seek counseling services and (b) develop a more culturally sensitive help‐seeking model based on modified labeling theory. Participants included 177 Korean international students in the United States. Results indicated that the effect of cultural values on mental health service‐seeking behaviors is mediated by one's perception of public stigma toward counseling services, self‐stigma, and attitudes toward counseling services among Korean international students. Implications for developing outreach programs to promote help‐seeking behaviors among Asian international students are discussed.