Relationship of primary versus secondary control beliefs to attitudes toward seeking help

This study examined the relationship of primary and secondary control beliefs to attitudes about seeking professional psychological help. A sample of 164 university students (68.3% women, mean age 24.96 years, SD=5.1) in Singapore completed the Primary-Secondary Control Scale and the Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale. Secondary control, defined as a belief of changing oneself to adapt to reality, was related to more positive attitudes toward seeking professional help. Primary control, defined as a belief of influencing existing realities as a mean of coping, was not related to attitudes toward help-seeking.