Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Research indicates that traumatic experiences can impact college students’ mental health, academic abilities, and relationships with peers. Trauma and associated symptoms of PTSD can lower students’ well-being and increase the risk of withdrawing from the university. Research also emphasizes the importance of psychological help-seeking as a way to experience posttraumatic growth. This study examines traumatic experiences, help-seeking attitudes, barriers, and behaviors, and posttraumatic growth in a sample of 168 undergraduate college students. Results indicated an overwhelming preference for informal help-seeking resources and the importance of traumatic severity in the decision to seek help. Additionally, female participants reported greater traumatic severity and more positive help-seeking attitudes than male participants. This is a vital area of research; by understanding the variables mentioned above, clinicians and researchers can better help college students and improve their attitudes toward psychological help.
Author: Aaron J. Burrick
Institution: University of Connecticut
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W95712746