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. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.