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Date of Graduation
5-2026
Description
Stigma remains a significant barrier for college students seeking mental health services, yet its predictors and impact are still not fully understood. Mental health problems are a large issue in public health, specifically college age adults are one of the most likely groups to develop such issues. This study examines key factors contributing to stigma and its relationship with help-seeking attitudes among undergraduate college students. We hypothesize that students who identify with minority ethnic groups, identify as male, and who are not seeking a career in mental health services will have higher rates of stigma and therefore be less likely to seek mental health services. Secondary data was analyzed where participants (N=104,730) completed a self-report depression symptom screener, demographic surveys, acculturation assessment, and questionnaires on perceived benefits and barriers to seeking mental health services. Stigma was assessed using self-report measures of perceived and self stigma, while help seeking attitudes were measured through a student’s willingness and likelihood to utilize campus mental health services. Multiple regression analyses will be used to examine the extent to which demographic variables predict stigma levels and to evaluate the relationship between forms of stigma and help seeking attitudes. This data is expected to provide insights into the relationship of stigma predictors and help-seeking attitudes by helping to understand how factors such as ethnicity, major, gender, etc. affect stigma rates in college students. These findings will be beneficial to creating policies and practices for college campuses to ensure equity in use of resources for all students in need of mental health services.
Publication Date
2026
Document Type
Book
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Health, Human Performance and Recreation
Advisor/Mentor
Bridges, Ana
Disciplines
Life Sciences
Keywords
Health
Citation
Lara, E. (2026). Predictors of Stigma and Their Relation to Mental Health Help-Seeking Attitude in College Students. 2026 Research Poster Competition. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc26/50
