Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Mental health treatment-related stigma and professional help seeking among student Veterans.
Journal Name
Psychological Services
Journal Volume
14
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
531–542
DOI
10.1037/ser0000129
Summary
College students who used to serve in the military often suffer from mental health issues; however, little is known about their mental health needs or concerns. For this study, 251 Veterans students and 251 civilian students completed an online survey regarding their mental health symptoms, help-seeking intentions, and treatment stigma. Results revealed some differences between the Veteran and civilian students regarding help-seeking intentions and treatment stigma.
Key Findings
Veteran students were more likely than civilian students to seek help for mental health problems.
Compared to civilian students, Veterans had less mental health treatment-related stigma but more negative beliefs about the usefulness of treatment.
Compared to Veterans with fewer mental health symptoms, those with more symptoms also had more stigma.
Implications for Program Leaders
Disseminate information on military bases regarding useful resources for mental health issues
Offer support groups for Service members who experienced combat-related mental health disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression)
Educate professionals working with Service members on how to help Service members reduce mental health treatment-related stigma
Implications for Policy Makers
Raise awareness on military bases regarding the effectiveness of mental health treatment
Continue to support programs that teach Service members about different types of mental health services from which they can benefit
Recommend awareness campaigns in order to reduce the mental health help-seeking stigma that Service members usually have
Methods
All participants were recruited from the same research university; they were invited to completed an online survey by email.
Measures assess PTSD symptoms, depression, negative beliefs about mental health treatment, self-stigma for seeking mental health professional help, and help-seeking intentions.
Data from the Veteran and civilian students samples were compared to examine their differences in mental health treatment-related stigma and help-seeking intentions.
Participants
Participants were 251 Veteran undergraduate students (73% male, mean age = 31.90, SD = 9.41) and 251 gender-matched students (73% male, mean age = 22.87, SD = 6.97) who did not serve in the military.
The majority of the Veteran students were White (63%), followed by Black (26%), Latino (4%), Asian American (2%), Multiracial (3%), and other (2%); the majority of the civilian students were also White (57%), followed by Black (25%), Latino (3%), Asian American (4%), Multiracial (2%), and other (9%).
The military branches that the Veterans served in were Army (43%), Navy (21%), Air Force (16%), Marines (13%), Coast Guard (6%), and multiple branches (1%).
Limitations
The study focused on participants' intention to seek help, which may not equal to their actual help-seeking behavior.
All participants were recruited from one university, so caution must be taken to generalize the results to Veteran students in other geographic regions.
The civilian sample was significantly younger than the Veteran sample; therefore, the age difference may potentially explain the group differences and the age differences were not controlled for.
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct longitudinal studies to examine the causal relationship between treatment stigma and help-seeking intentions
Recruit participants from different geographic regions so that the findings can be better generalized
Examine how gender may influence Service members' help-seeking behaviors
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Record numbers of military veterans are enrolling at colleges/universities across the United States. Although a substantive subset might suffer from mental health problems, the majority of these students might not be amenable to utilizing services. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of treatment-related stigma in intentions to seek professional help among undergraduate student veterans at a university on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Focusing on 251 veterans and a gender-matched comparison group of 251 nonveterans, student veterans endorsed higher probabilities of seeking care from physicians (d = .77) and psychologists or other professionals (d = .67). In addition, nonveteran students had greater self-stigma about seeking help (d = .27) but veterans had more negative beliefs about treatment efficacy (d = 1.07). When compared with veterans who did not exceed clinical thresholds, those with a probable need for treatment had more stigma (ds .63). Multivariate analyses also revealed an inverse main effect of self-stigma on intentions to seek help from both professional categories. However, military experience differentially moderated associations between treatment-related beliefs and intentions to seek mental health services. Finally, exploratory analyses identified that student veterans were most likely to engage in therapy/counseling at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center or Clinic, Vet Center, or other noninstitutionally sponsored settings in the community (e.g., private practices, faith-based organizations). Looking ahead, these findings will inform research and the provision of services for addressing the mental health needs of this substantive subpopulation of college students in the United States.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
Attach