ERIC Number: ED649024
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 176
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3819-4474-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Perceived Barriers to Mental Health and Wellness among Male-Identifying Graduate and Professional Students
Evan M. Maloney
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, New England College
Past researchers have identified high levels of mental health concerns among graduate and professional students as well as some of the key predictors which lead to these concerns. They have also highlighted the negative consequences - both short and long-term - for untreated mental health concerns as well as the benefits for students who do seek help. Despite these data, resource utilization among graduate students remains low relative to need, especially among male-identifying students. Further, most research on graduate student mental health has relied on overwhelmingly female participant pools. Given this gender imbalance in past studies and data showing that male students access mental health services at lower rates than their female peers, I hoped to identify perceived barriers that inhibit mental health help-seeking among male-identifying graduate and professional students. My primary research question for this study was: To what extent do social and demographic variables influence mental health help-seeking behavior among male-identifying graduate and professional students? Using data from the Healthy Minds Study, a national web-based survey examining mental health and resource utilization, I considered the degree to which male-identifying students' help-seeking is influenced by seven social and demographic variables: race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, diagnosed mental illness, socioeconomic status, mental health literacy, stigma, and isolation. Findings suggest the need for a broad and nuanced approach to mental health service delivery for male-identifying graduate and professional students. In addition to enhancing health promotion education, practitioners must improve access to both clinical and non-clinical sources of help, particularly for students from low SES backgrounds. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Males, Graduate Students, Mental Health, Student Welfare, Help Seeking, Barriers, Socioeconomic Status, Socioeconomic Influences, Social Influences
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A