What does HSSS mean in UNCLASSIFIED

The Help Seeker Stereotype Scale (HSSS) is a questionnaire consisting of six items designed to measure the perception of negative stereotypes associated with seeking help. It is intended to provide insight into how beliefs regarding helpers and help-seeking may be inhibiting individuals from accessing resources and support when needed. The HSSS measures participants' responses on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from Not at all true to Very true, of how much they agree with the statements included in the survey.

The six items in the HSSS each address different aspects of help seeking including shame, stigma, vulnerability, weakness, trust, and self-criticism. They focus on beliefs about how seeking help reflects negatively on an individual's character or competence.

After completing the HSSS questionnaire, scores can be determined by totaling all responses. A higher score indicates more agreement with the negative stereotypes around help-seeking while a lower score reflects less agreement with those same stereotypes.

There is no one universally accepted score determined by HSSS as everyone’s experience and attitudes towards help-seeking differ. However, lower scores indicate less agreement with negative stereotypes while higher scores suggest those same beliefs are more strongly held.

Yes. Previous studies have successfully utilized HSSS to assess perceptions around seeking help and examine differences between those who seek help and those who do not across multiple demographics such as gender and socio-economic status.

Yes! Since children are particularly vulnerable to rigid gender role expectations which often discourage boys from reaching out for emotional support it’s important they gain insight into their understanding of what it means to seek assistance from others when needed. Utilizing HSSS can provide children with valuable insight into this understanding which can have positive implications for their mental health and wellbeing over time.

Mental health professionals use HSSS to assess patients’ attitudes towards seeking assistance from others in order to better understand how these attitudes may influence treatment outcomes as well as forming stronger connections between therapist and patient during therapy sessions. Examining these attitudes also allows therapists to provide guidance around shifting negative mindsets that could otherwise interfere with treatment progress or outcomes.

Absolutely! Research conducted using findings obtained via administering HSSS has been published in various scientific journals examining behavior related issues such as self-stigma management among undergraduates or effects of traumatic events on perceptions of help-seeking among military personnel among other topics related mental health.