Why Now: A Quantitative Analysis of Factors Influencing Treatment-Seeking Behavior for Adults With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• In Event: AERA Research-in-Progress Roundtable Session 1
  In Invited Roundtable: Student Health and Well-Being: Understanding the Links to Identity, Self-Esteem, Engagement, Treatment-Seeking, and Student Outcomes (Table 17)

Abstract

This quantitative study examines barriers to treatment-seeking among adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition affecting 2.3% of the U.S. population. Despite its prevalence, many individuals face delays in care due to systemic, educational, emotional, and cultural obstacles. Using the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation (BACE v3) scale and the COM-B theoretical model, this research hopes to identify key factors influencing treatment behaviors. Anticipated findings may illuminate how stigma, access disparities, and socio-cultural expectations discourage timely intervention. The study aims to enhance accessibility, fostering a broader dialogue about mental healthcare access within the healthcare community.

Authors

• Kerstin Marie Cornell, Baylor University

• Anne J. Steketee, Baylor University