Psychological distress, attitudes toward seeking help, and utilization of college counseling at a predominantly minority college

Abstract

Objective

This study examined psychological distress among students at a predominantly-minority college, attitudes toward seeking help, and utilization of college counseling services. Demographic variables and associations between 8 problem areas (depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, academic stress, eating concerns, family distress, hostility, substance use) were explored.

Participants

Participants were 347 students at a large public university.

Methods

In 2016-2017, students completed a Web-based questionnaire providing information about their mental health, attitudes toward seeking help, and utilization of counseling services.

Results

Psychological distress was significantly higher for LGBQT, Muslim and female students and lower for Christian affiliated and religious students. LGBQT students were less likely to seek psychological help than other students. Utilization of college counseling did not differ by race or gender.

Conclusions

Administrators at PMCs must increase their efforts to disseminate information about mental health services and reduce barriers to seeking help, particularly for LGBQT, female and Muslim students.

Keywords:

• Minority college students
• psychological distress
• utilization of college counseling

Conflict of interest disclosure

Two of the authors (SS and EW) work at the counseling center where this study was conducted. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the institutional review board of York College/CUNY.

Table 3. Multiple regression analysis—factors associated with psychological distress.

Funding

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.