Gender differences in intentions to seek personal counselling: the mediating role of social self-concept

Given the negative effects that anxiety and stress can have on university students' academic performance, work, and relationships, it is important to identify factors associated with intentions to seek personal counselling. We identified social self-concept, students' beliefs about their abilities and confidence in social situations, as a mediator in the relationship between gender and intentions to seek personal counselling. To test our hypotheses, we administered surveys to 964 first-year undergraduate students in the western U.S. Women reported higher levels of anxiety and stress, lower levels of social self-concept, and were more likely to seek personal counselling than men. In addition, social self-concept mediated the influence of gender on intentions to seek counselling. We discuss implications for theory and practice.