PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND HELP-SEEKING IN RURAL AMERICA

The implications of exposure to acute and chronic stressors, and seeki ng mental health care, for increased psychological distress are examin ed. Research on economic stress, psychological distress, and rural agr anian values each point to increasing variability within rural areas. Using data from a panel study of 1,487 adults, a model predicting chan ges in depressive symptoms was specified and tested. Results show effe cts by size of place for men but not for women. Men living in rural vi llages of under 2,500 or in small towns of 2,500 to 9,999 people had s ignificantly greater increases in depressive symptoms than men living in the country or in larger towns or cities. Size of place was also re lated to level of stigma toward mental health care. Persons living in the most rural environments were more likely to hold stigmatized attit udes toward mental health care and these views were strongly predictiv e of willingness to seek care. The combination of increased risk and l ess willingness to seek assistance places men living in small towns an d villages in particular jeopardy for continuing problems involving de pressed mood.