Concept analysis of help-seeking intention in adolescents in the context of mental health: A conceptual review using the Walker & Avant method

Adolescents' professional help-seeking behavior is significantly influenced by their help-seeking intention (HSI), espe-cially in relation to mental health concerns. Despite being widely used in various studies, the definition, characteris-tics, antecedents, and consequences of this concept remain varied and inconsistent. To strengthen the foundation for interventions and clarify theoretical understanding, concept analysis is required. Using the Walker and Avant method, this concept analysis seeks to elucidate the concept of adolescents' intention to seek help. This approach explores antecedents, characteristics, and consequences using Walker and Avant's conceptual method through eight analytical steps. It also presents case examples that clarify the conceptual boundaries of help-seeking intention among adoles-cents in the context of mental health. Help-seeking intention is defined as adolescents' cognitive and affective pre-paredness to seek professional or non-professional assistance and is influenced by attitudes toward seeking help, sub-jective norms, perceived behavioral control, and evaluations of help sources. In the context of mental health, stigma, social support, and mental health literacy are antecedents of adolescents' intention to seek help. The characteristics of this concept include problem recognition, attitudes toward seeking help, behavioral intentions, and preferences for trusted sources of help. Adolescent help-seeking intention is a multifaceted concept that includes social, affective, and cognitive components. This work provides a stronger theoretical basis for research on mental health literacy-based interventions and adolescent mental health promotion.

Keywords: Adolescents, humans, intention, mental health, nursing