The associations between coping resources and help-seeking intention in a sample of Chinese first-year medical students: mediation effects of coping strategies

Apr 28, 2025BMC public health

How coping resources relate to willingness to seek help among Chinese first-year medical students: the role of coping strategies

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Abstract

A sample of 792 Chinese first-year medical students revealed significant associations between and .

Perceived social support and self-compassion were associated with both formal and informal help-seeking intention.
was identified as a significant mediator between perceived social support and help-seeking intention.
Self-compassion was linked to help-seeking intention through both active coping and .
Behavioral disengagement significantly mediated the relationship between self-compassion and formal help-seeking intention.
Five significant mediation paths were identified, highlighting the complex interactions between coping resources and help-seeking intention.

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BACKGROUND: Help-seeking is an adaptive coping process encompassing orientation, intention and actual behaviors. which promotes help-seeking behavior is a protective factor for mental health. However, the psychological paths for help-seeking intention in first-year medical students, a population vulnerable to mental health challenges, remain elusive. Thus, we aim to explore the associations between (i.e., perceived social support (PSS) and self-compassion) and formal/informal help-seeking intention, and to further test the mediating role of coping strategies (i.e., and ) in these relationships.

METHODS: The sample included 792 Chinese first-year medical students. Validated scale was used to assess PSS. The Self-compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF) and the Brief COPE were employed to evaluate self-compassion and coping strategies. Multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses indicated that PSS, self-compassion, active coping, and behavioral disengagement were significantly associated with formal/informal help-seeking intention. SEM further demonstrated that active coping significantly mediated the relationships between PSS and formal/informal help-seeking intention, as well as the relationships between self-compassion and formal/informal help-seeking intention. Moreover, behavioral disengagement was found to significantly mediate the association between self-compassion and formal help-seeking intention.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified five significant mediation paths, indicating the intricate relationships between coping resources, coping strategies, and help-seeking intention. These findings offer actionable insights for interventions, suggesting that enhancing PSS and fostering self-compassion can promote active coping, reduce behavioral disengagement, and ultimately increase both formal and informal help-seeking intention among first-year medical students in China.

Key numbers

792

Participants

Total number of first-year medical students surveyed.

Significant mediation pathways

Number of mediation paths identified between and .

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The associations between coping resources and help-seeking intention in a sample of Chinese first-year medical students: mediation effects of coping strategies

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