Geographical and age disparities in psychological help-seeking among university students

This study investigated the influence of age and geographical location on psychological health-seeking behaviour among university students in Ghana, drawing on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as guiding frameworks. The research targeted 5369 undergraduate accounting students across four public universities, with 588 respondents completing an online survey. Attitudes toward professional psychological help were assessed using the 10-item ATSPPH-SF scale, which demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in this context. Data were analysed using ANOVA and independent-samples t-tests, with effect sizes and confidence intervals reported. The results showed no significant differences in health-seeking behaviour across age groups. However, geographical location was found to be a significant determinant, as students from urban areas were more likely to seek professional psychological support compared with their rural counterparts. Consistent with the HBM, rural students may perceive greater barriers and lower benefits in accessing care, while TPB suggests that normative pressures and perceived behavioural control influence students’ willingness to seek help. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address structural and cultural barriers in rural settings. Expanding mental health accessibility across diverse geographical areas should be prioritized by universities and policymakers.