Exploring the Role(s) of Trait Emotional Intelligence & Personality in Help-Seeking Behaviour Among Undergraduate Students

Trait emotional intelligence (EI) and the Big Five personality factors represent promising constructs in the individual differences literature that have been investigated in relation to help-seeking behaviour. This quantitative work explores the relationship between individual differences in trait EI, personality, and attitudes toward – as well as future intentions to engage in – help-seeking behaviour among undergraduate students at Western University. Stepwise regression modelling was used to determine which dimensions of personality and trait EI best predicted help-seeking outcomes and whether attitudes toward help-seeking predicted intentions to seek help from university-provided mental health sources. Resultsindicated that several individual facets of trait EI were more closely associated with and better predictors of both general attitudes toward help-seeking behaviour and intentions to seek help from formal support sources than the Big Five. Attitudes toward help-seeking were found to be significantly predictive of intentions to seek help from Student Health Services and Psychological Services