Secondary school students' views of inhibiting factors in seeking counselling

• Published in: British journal of guidance & counselling Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 527 - 543
• Main Authors: Chan, Stephanie, Quinn, Philip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Taylor & Francis Group 01.11.2012; Routledge; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Attitudes; Barriers; Counselling; counselling in schools; Discriminant analysis; Exploratory factor analysis; Factor Analysis; Gender Differences; inhibiting factors; Inhibition; Investigations; Measures (Individuals); Perceptions; Qualitative methods; Qualitative research; Questionnaires; Responses; School Counseling; school students; Secondary School Students; Secondary schools; Student Attitudes; therapeutic setting
• ISSN: 0306-9885; 1469-3534
• DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2012.719603

This study examines secondary school students' perceptions of inhibiting factors in seeking counselling. Responses to a questionnaire completed by 1346 secondary school students were analysed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Exploratory factor analysis highlighted that within 21 pre-defined inhibiting factors, items loaded strongly on one component, 'diffident', suggesting that this is a main inhibiting factor. A second component, 'self-reliant', also emerged as a main inhibiting factor. Significant differences were found across gender, with female participants rating the pre-defined inhibitory factors higher than males on items relating to diffidence and self-reliance. The main inhibiting factors, 'diffidence' and 'self-reliance', warrant development into measures for future investigations into students' views of school-based counselling.