2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
(447a) The Influence of Perceived Help-Seeking Outcomes on Student Access to Mental Health Support
Authors
Sarah Wilson - Presenter, University of Kentucky
Sara Lamer, University of Kentucky
Ava Huth, Iowa State
Joseph H. Hammer, University of Kentucky
National data suggests engineering students are professional treatment for their mental health at lower rates than students from outside engineering. This can result in worsening of mental health conditions to more severe or chronic disorders. Therefore, this quantitative study aims to understand the mental health related help-seeking beliefs of first-year engineering students and their impact on students’ intention to seek help for their mental health. Using the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) as a framework, a survey was conducted in December 2021 at a large public university with 452 first-year engineering students. In this study, we present the outcome beliefs that were predictive of students’ intention to seek help for their mental health. In particular, outcome beliefs that were negatively correlated with intention to seek help were that seeking help would: 1) go against the expectations of the engineering community, 2) be a sign of weakness or an admission of defeat, and 3) result in poor treatment or discrimination from the mental health professional. Conversely, the outcome beliefs most strongly positively correlated with intention were that seeking help would: 1) help me feel supported, 2) help me improve my coping skills, 3) make me feel better, 4) help me find a solution to my problem, and 5) help me gain a better understanding of my mental health concern. These findings illuminate critical aspects of first-year engineering students' attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment and offer insights for developing targeted interventions to improve their help-seeking behaviors.