International students experience self-stigma associated with seeking psychological services. The current research tests a moderated mediation model in which hyper-visibility predicts self-stigma of seeking help through the mediating mechanism of stereotype threat, and growth mindset buffers the stereotype threat → self-stigma relationship. The survey was conducted among 344 international students enrolled at universities in China. According to moderated mediation analysis, the following effects were found: 1) hyper-visibility positively and significantly predicted stereotype threat; 2) stereotype threat positively and significantly predicted self-stigma of seeking help; and 3) growth mindset negatively and significantly moderated the stereotype threat → self-stigma relationship. Consequently, the indirect effect of hyper-visibility on self-stigma through stereotype threat was higher for students with low growth mindset and lower for those with high growth mindset. Thus, growth mindset acts as a buffer in cognitive processes to minimize stigmatization. Hyper-visibility and stereotype threat were strongly correlated and further analysis using the heterotrait-monotrait (HTMT) ratio indicated that the two constructs did not meet conventional discriminant-validity thresholds; this overlap is reported transparently and discussed as a limitation. This research has real-life implications for counseling centers in universities and services for international students. Universities should screen for hyper-visibility and low growth mindset during orientation to identify potentially at-risk students. Interventions related to growth mindset, such as presenting psychological services as developmental opportunities, providing growth-mindset modules during orientation, and training peer mentors to normalize help-seeking, would help disrupt the stereotype threat → self-stigma chain.
Cite this paper
Sikayo, M. and Sheng, Y. (2026). Does Hyper-Visibility Fuel Self-Stigma of Help-Seeking? The Mediation of Stereotype Threat and Moderator of Growth Mindset. Open Access Library Journal, 13, e15888. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1115888.
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