Understanding Psychological Help-Seeking in Portuguese University Students: Influences of Personality Traits, Gender, Academic and Socioeconomic Factors

University students are at risk for the development of psychological problems, and their attitudes/intentions toward seeking help have been studied concerning personality traits and socio-demographics. This study utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods design, with 400 Portuguese students participating. Quantitatively, it assessed how personality traits, gender, and socioeconomic status influence attitudes, and it also considered the year of study, the scientific area, and students' intentions. The five personality traits (NEO-FFI) and attitudes (IASMHS) were analyzed. Results indicated that Openness, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness correlated with more positive attitudes, and students who identify as women tended to have better attitudes than men. Social Science students expressed a greater intention to seek help. Qualitatively, the content analysis results showed that some students more frequently reported reasons, like understanding the need for seeking psychological help and favorable attitudes for seeking help, as facilitators. Regarding barriers, the students diverge into various factors, with intrapersonal dilemmas, stigma, and negative attitudes as the most frequently reported.