Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form in Mainland China

• DOI: 10.1007/s10447-011-9137-1
• Publication Date: 2011-09-30T15:39:17Z
• Authors: Ke Fang; Alex L Pieterse; Myrna Friedlander; Junhong Cao
• Keywords: Exploratory factor analysis

This investigation tested the psychometric properties of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF; Fisher and Farina [Journal of College Student Development, 36, 368–373, 1995]) in a sample of 338 Mainland Chinese college students. Using back-translation, the ATSPPH-SF was translated into simplified Chinese. Confirmatory factor analysis did not support the original one-factor model. Subsequently, exploratory factor analysis suggested a 7-item, two-factor model; however, the new factor structure yielded poor reliability coefficients, below .60. Results suggest that the help-seeking construct as operationalized by the ATSPPH-SF may not be valid for the Chinese population. The importance of designing indigenous instruments for help-seeking attitudes is discussed.