Psychology Department, University of South Alabama.
Department of Professional Studies, University of South Alabama.
Psychol Serv. 2017 Nov;14(4):531-542. doi: 10.1037/ser0000129.
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. (PsycINFO Database Record
记录数量的退伍军人正在在美国各地的学院/大学注册。尽管有相当一部分人可能患有心理健康问题，但大多数学生可能不愿意利用这些服务。本研究的目的是检查在美国墨西哥湾沿岸一所大学的本科退伍军人寻求专业帮助的意图中的治疗相关耻辱感的作用。本研究关注了 251 名退伍军人和 251 名性别匹配的非退伍军人对照组，退伍军人更有可能选择从医生（d =.77）和心理医生或其他专业人士（d =.67）那里寻求治疗。此外，非退伍军人学生对寻求帮助的自我耻辱感更强（d = -.27），但退伍军人对治疗效果的负面信念更多（d = 1.07）。与未超过临床阈值的退伍军人相比，那些可能需要治疗的退伍军人有更多的耻辱感（ds =.63）。多变量分析还表明，自我耻辱感对从专业类别寻求帮助的意图有逆主效应。然而，军事经验不同程度地调节了与治疗相关的信念和寻求心理健康服务的意图之间的关系。最后，探索性分析表明，退伍军人学生最有可能在退伍军人事务医疗中心或诊所、退伍军人中心或其他社区非机构赞助的环境（例如，私人诊所、信仰组织）中接受治疗/咨询。展望未来，这些发现将为研究和提供服务提供信息，以满足美国这一重要大学生群体的心理健康需求。
