Utilization of Mental Health Services by Asian American College Students at Emory University Público

Abstract

Asian American students are faced with multifaceted and complex issues in addition to traditional students' concerns. Most of their concerns and stigma are related to their cultural values and norms. In addition, the way they perceive their needs and describe their emotional problems contribute to the lower diagnosis and recognition of mental health issues and low service utilization rate among Asian American students. Thus, persons of Asian descent constitute a high-risk group for mental distress.

The mental health status and services utilization rates and predictors of use have not recently been assessed for Asian American students at Emory University. Therefore, this study used the Diffusion of Innovations Theory as a guide to assess the use of mental health services using two national surveys collected by Emory University Student Health and Counseling Services (i.e., ACHA-NCHA and HMS). The study utilized a secondary, quantitative design to assess mental health status, mental health services utilization, knowledge and perceptions of mental health services, and best predictors of mental health services use.

The findings showed that the prevalence of any mental illness among Asian American students (.9% - 10.6%) at Emory University was much lower than among white students (10% - 22.3%). Asian American students had more negative feelings than white students had; and reported fewer positive feelings. However, they reported less felt need for mental health assistance. Fewer Asian American students (3.3% - 26.1%) hadever used mental health services than white students had (10.4% - 52.1%), although equal
proportions (35%-43%) had used campus counseling. They also used other support less, including friends and roommates. They had less knowledge about mental health services, perceived more public stigma, were more likely to feel that therapy was less helpful, and
less likely to know someone who had used it before. The findings of this study also showed that needs felt is the best predictor of mental health services use by Asian American students. Asian culture is vital to address the mental health of Asian American students. Therefore, efforts should focus on assessing the values and needs of Asian American students using qualitative methods.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

I. Introduction .................................................................................................1
II. Literature Review..........................................................................................6
III. Methods ..................................................................................................19

IV. Results ....................................................................................................34

V. Discussion .................................................................................................67
VI. References ..............................................................................................83

List of Figures
I. Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DOI) Framework ...............................................4

List of Appendices
I. Appendix A: IRB Letter of Determination .........................................................94

List of Tables

Table 1. ACHA-NCHA Sample ...........................................................................21
Table 2. HMS Sample .....................................................................................22
Table 3. Study Demographics of the ACHA-NCHA ................................................35
Table 4. Study Demographics of the HMS ..........................................................36
Table 5. Mental Health Diagnoses (ACHA-NCHA) .................................................38
Table 6. Mental Health Diagnoses (HMS) ...........................................................39
Table 7. Mental Health in Last 4 Weeks (HMS) ...................................................40
Table 8. Suicide Risk Ever (ACHA-NCHA) ...........................................................41
Table 9. Suicide Risk in Past Year (HMS) ...........................................................41
Table 10. Intentional Self Injuries in Past Year (HMS) ..........................................42
Table 11. Negative Emotions Ever (ACHA-NCHA) .................................................43
Table 12. Positive Emotions in Past Month (HMS) ................................................44
Table 13. Negative Emotions in Past Month (HMS) ...............................................46
Table 14. Mental Health Services Use (ACHA-NCHA) ............................................48
Table 15. Campus Mental Health Services Use (ACHA-NCHA) .................................48
Table 16. Mental Health Services Use (HMS) ......................................................49
Table 17. Knowledge (ACHA-NCHA) ..................................................................51
Table 18. Intention to Learn (ACHA-NCHA) ........................................................52
Table 19. Knowledge (HMS) ............................................................................53
Table 20. Important Reasons to the Receipt of Mental Health Services (HMS) ......... 53
Table 21. Felt Needs (ACHA-NCHA) ..................................................................54
Table 22. Issues Affecting Academic Performance (ACHA-NCHA) ............................55
Table 23. Felt Needs (HMS) .............................................................................56
Table 24. Non-Clinical Previous Practice of Mental Health (HMS) .............................57
Table 25. Social Norms ANOVA (HMS) ................................................................58
Table 26. Non-Clinical Mental Health Support (HMS) .............................................59
Table 27. Other Support ANOVA (HMS) ..............................................................60
Table 28. Effectiveness of Alternative Mental Health Support (HMS).........................60
Table 29. Mental Health Effectiveness ANOVA (HMS) ............................................61
Table 30. Incompatibility (HMS) ........................................................................61
Table 31. Complexity (HMS) .............................................................................62
Table 32. Observability (HMS) ..........................................................................62
Table 33. Regression Model for Any Use (ACHA-NCHA) ..........................................63
Table 34. Correlations with Ever Use (HMS) ........................................................64
Table 35. Correlations among Independent Variables (HMS) ...................................65
Table 36. Regression Model for Any Use (HMS).....................................................66
Table 37. Regression Model if Term Removed (HMS)...............................................66

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Mental Health
Palavra-chave	Asian American felt needs mental health services Diffusion of Innovations mental health Emory University college students
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Thompson, Nancy J, Emory University
Committee Members	Zesiger, Heather, Emory University Kaslow, Nadine, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Emory University schools, faculty or affiliated programs

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