| Research has consistently identified low rates of counseling use among Asian international students. Empirical findings suggest that Asian foreign students are less likely to seek counseling than their American peers (Huyn, Quinn, Madon, & Lustig, 2007; Nilsson, Berkel, Flores, & Lucas, 2004; Yakushko, Davidson, & Sanford-Martens, 2008). Research also indicates that when Asian international students do seek counseling, they typically attend few therapy sessions (Nilsson et al., 2004; Yakushko et al., 2008).;Several calls have been made to examine different cognitive and cultural predictors of counseling use in this population (Heggins & Jackson, 2003; Ibrahim & Ingram, 2007; Mori, 2000; Sheu & Fukuyama, 2007). Possible cognitive predictors include help-seeking intentions, counseling attitudes, and stigma concerns. Potential cultural predictors include acculturation, Asian values, and loss of face concerns. The purpose of this study was to integrate the above predictors using the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA, Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980; Fishbein & Ajzen, 2009).;In order to test the applicability of the TRA, data were collected from 295 Asian international students. All participants completed an online survey including a demographic questionnaire and measures of help-seeking intentions, counseling attitudes, stigma concerns, acculturation, Asian values, and loss of face concerns. Subsequently, three TRA models were tested: a Non-Mediated, a Partially Mediated, and a Fully Mediated Model (Holmbeck, 1997). Additional analyses included bivariate correlations and bootstrapping analysis of indirect effects (Shrout & Bolger, 2002).;The results indicated partial support for the TRA as an integrated model of Asian international students’ help-seeking. Path analysis indicated that the Partially Mediated Model offered the best data fit. In addition, participants’ endorsement of Asian values was associated with more negative counseling attitudes, which then resulted into lower help-seeking intentions.;Contrary to the hypotheses, however, acculturation did not predict any of the help-seeking constructs of interest. In addition, participants’ stigma and loss of face concerns were positively associated with their help-seeking intentions, which is inconsistent with prior theory and research. Overall, the findings of the present study indicate that Asian international students’ help-seeking intentions may be more complex than what is represented by the TRA. |
