Self-distancing as a path to help-seeking for people with depression

摘要

Objective: Three studies explored whether self-distancing, a method where the self is treated as an other, can impact help-seeking among those with depression. Self-distancing was expected to reduce the negative biases associated with depression by minimizing self-relevance through taking the perspective of an objective other, We hypothesized that when thinking about a past experience of help-seeking, a self-distancing prompt would cause increased help-seeking intentions and more favorable help-seeking outcome expectations. The influence of self-distancing on the self-stigma of help-seeking was also explored.