What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to explore how mental health stigma and PTSD symptoms affect the willingness to seek treatment for trauma-related issues.

May 17, 2026

Influence of mental health stigma and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms on treatment-seeking intention in a sample of trauma-exposed adults.

Key Points

The research aims to explore how mental health stigma and PTSD symptoms affect the willingness to seek treatment for trauma-related issues.
Analyzed data from 365 participants using a Bayesian approach to multiple regression.
Assessed the relationship between various stigma types and treatment-seeking intention.
Used measures of trauma exposure and PTSD symptom severity.
Stigma about seeking treatment had the strongest negative association with treatment-seeking intention (β = -.74).
Concerns about stigma from loved ones positively correlated with increased treatment seeking (β = .13).
Other stigma types and PTSD symptoms also considered but revealed different impacts.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A substantial number of adults experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms do not seek mental health services despite the availability of effective, evidence-based interventions. One potential contributor to this treatment gap is mental health stigma, which may contribute to low treatment-seeking intention. Although stigma has been linked to reduced treatment seeking, less is known about how specific types of stigma relate to help-seeking behavior in the context of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder. METHOD: = 365) using a Bayesian approach to multiple regression. RESULTS: Results indicated that stigma about seeking treatment had the strongest (negative) association with treatment-seeking intention (β = -.74) over and above other forms of stigma, trauma exposure, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity, whereas concerns about stigma from loved ones were associated with increased treatment seeking (β = .13). CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to our understanding of stigma and treatment seeking and have implications for clinical interventions with trauma-exposed adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

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