Self-stigma of seeking psychological help in university students; public-stigma, psychological mindedness and self-compassion: the role of mediation, moderate, and moderating mediation

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of psychological mindedness self-stigma of seeking psychological help and public-stigma of seeking psychological help of university students, the moderator role of self-compassion in the relationship between self-stigma of seeking psychological help and psychological mindedness, the moderating role of self-compassion in the indirect public-stigma of seeking psychological help and self-stigma of seeking psychological help through psychological mindedness through. students. Participants consisted of 287 (226 female,61 male) undergraduate students at Pamukkale University. Participants were determined by the convenience sampling method. Data were obtained via the Self-stigma of Seeking Psychological Help Scale, Public-stigma of Seeking Psychological Help Scale, Balanced Psychological Mindedness Index, Self-compassion Scale and Personal Information Form. In the study, regression analysis based on bootsrap technique was conducted to examine the moderator role of self-compassion in the indirect effect of public stigma on self-stigma of seeking psychological help psychological mindedness. The findings from current study indicate that psychological mindedness has a mediating role between self-stigma and public stigma of seeking psychological help. In addition, it was determined that self-compassion had a moderating role between self-stigma seeking psychological help and psychological mindedness. Finally, no moderator role of self-compassion was found in the indirect effect of public stigma psychological help seeking on self-stigma through psychological mindedness. The findings were discussed in light of the relevant literature and theoretical framework, and suggestions were provided for practitioners and researchers.