Needs, Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Help, and Preferred Sources of Help Among Emirati College Students

This investigation, conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), examined Emirati college students’ needs, help-seeking attitudes, preference for source of help, and perceptions of counseling services offered on campus. Most participants reported moderate levels of personal, academic, career, and interpersonal needs, although results varied along gender lines. Overall, participants displayed slightly positive attitudes toward seeking professional help, yet showed negative attitudes toward interpersonal openness, although this, too, differed by gender. Participants preferred non-professional sources of help, such as family and friends. Participants understood counseling services on campus to refer to academic-related services. Findings are discussed within the UAE cultural context.