Workshop’s Topic: Individuals worldwide, especially members of minority groups, are less inclined to seek healthcare for mental illnesses compared with physical illnesses. This study assessed whether the previously overlooked factor of in-group preference plays a role in consumers’ divergent decision-making on healthcare-seeking behavior for physical and mental illnesses. Through a large-scale dataset comprising over 34 million medical consultations and seven controlled randomized experiments, we consistently present evidence that when seeking healthcare for mental (vs. physical) illnesses, consumers place greater importance on healthcare providers’ perspective-taking skills, leading to a stronger preference for in-group healthcare providers. The current research contributes to the literature on healthcare decision-making, in-group preference, perspective-taking, and global identity, and provides policy and practical implications for promoting healthcare-seeking for mental illness and mitigating health disparities.

Time and Location: 15:00 PM (GMT+8), Room A523 (School of Management)

Language: Bilingual (Chinese and English)