title: Personality-related factors as predictors of help-seeking for depression: a population-based study applying the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the prevalence of mental disorders and the demand for mental health services are increasing, little is known about the impact of personality-related factors on help-seeking among depressive individuals. We, therefore, investigated the relationship between the "Big Five" personality traits, resilience, alexithymia, childhood neglect or abuse, and help-seeking among depressive individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from 354 persons with a diagnosis of major depression from the population-based cohort study of health in Pomerania within the theoretical framework of the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using stepwise regression techniques, we found that older age, higher education, more perceived social support, presence of childhood abuse, higher levels of conscientiousness, lower levels of resilience, and more severe depression were associated with help-seeking for depression. In contrast, gender, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and alexithymia did not significantly predict help-seeking. In addition, no evidence for gender-specific effects was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Personality-related predisposing factors are important predictors of help-seeking. The influence of resilience on help-seeking among depressed individuals merits further exploration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany, georg.schomerus@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schomerus
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Meffert
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppa
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Grabe
authors.forename: Sebastian E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Baumeister
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support