Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Alethea Baker

Abstract

Psychologists experience a myriad of professional stressors and barriers to self-care that can affect their well-being and ability to offer effective care to patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between demographic variables, professional stressors, barriers to treatment and help-seeking behaviors among psychologists. Using a revised Bearse survey and the professional quality of life measurement, data were collected and analyzed using analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression. The 235 respondents comprised 74% women, 62.3% European American, and 56.2% reported having a PhD in psychology. Findings indicated significant differences between non-European American and European American ethnic groups in relation to seeking out psychotherapy. European American and Asian/Pacific Islander ethnic groups sought out psychotherapy nearly twice as often. Private practice and psychodynamic orientation increased the likelihood of seeking help, whereas government/industry settings and cognitive behavioral orientation decreased this. The professional stressors of burnout and countertransference were predictive for the number of psychotherapy courses of help-seeking participants but explained a small amount of the variance. Lack of time, difficulty finding a therapist, and the number of psychotherapy sessions performed per month were significant predictors for not seeking help. The results of this study could contribute to positive social change by encouraging psychotherapy when a perceived need is present. More research is needed to understand better why some ethnic groups seek out therapy more often when it is perceived to benefit them.

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