Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Psychology

Major Professor

Nathaniel von der Embse, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Shannon Suldo, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Eunsook Kim, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Kristin Kosyluk, Ph.D.

Keywords

help-seeking, mental health, social-emotional risk, stigma, universal screening

Abstract

Throughout the United States, the rate of adolescents experiencing mental health-related challenges continues to rise, impacting their social-emotional well-being. Despite increasing concerns, the majority of adolescents do not seek treatment for mental health problems. One barrier contributing to a lack of help-seeking behaviors is mental health stigma. Furthermore, for students who have sought help for such concerns, there is a lack of consensus on whom high school students turn to for support when seeking help. The current study utilized quantitative methodology in the form of Structural Equation Modeling to examine the complex relationship between social-emotional risk, perceptions of mental health stigma and recovery, as well as help-seeking behaviors among high school students. The study recruited a sample of 572 students from a high school located in the Midwest region of the United States. The study found that students who had previously sought help for mental health concerns demonstrated more stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health and recovery. Additionally, lower social and emotional risk led to more stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health and recovery. Finally, lower levels of social and emotional risk were related to a decreased likelihood of seeking help for a mental health concern in the future. By developing an understanding of the relationship between social-emotional risk and help-seeking behaviors, educators and school-based mental health professionals may be able to provide early interventions and support to students who may otherwise avoid seeking help.

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