Attitudes of adolescents towards seeking help from traditional and online sources

• Published in: מגמות 2011-06, Vol.47 (3-4), p.616-640
• Main Authors: Gilat, Itzhak, Ezer, Hana, Sagee, Rachel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Assistance; Attitudes; Gender differentiation; Israel; Parent-child relations; Peer groups; Websites; Well-being
• ISSN: 0025-8679

The present study examined the attitudes of adolescents towards seeking help with academic difficulties and personal issues, and their reasons for not seeking help. Following the growing role of the internet in adolescents' lives, we focused on it as a source of help, trying to identify internet features that encourage adolescents to seek help online. Attitudes towards help seeking were examined in relation to gender, age, and subjective well being (SWB). The sample comprised 335 adolescents from six schools in central Israel. Data were collected using structured questionnaires which measured willingness to seek help from different sources, and SWB. Reasons for not seeking help were examined using open ended questions. Participant were also questioned concerning subjective well-being using structured questionnaires. Consistent with other studies' findings, this study found parents and friends the most attractive sources of help for adolescents. The internet was perceived an appropriate source by adolescents who seek less help from traditional sources, for example, adolescents with low SWB and boys. The findings highlight the relevance of introducing professionally-moderated websites to offer emotional support for adolescents.