Abstract

Background

A large number of U.S. college students suffer from depression symptoms, yet existing resources cannot match the demand.

Aims

This study identified the psychological determinants of utilizing a help-line and examined potential barriers in order to inform effective help-line promotion.

Participants

Four hundred and six undergraduate students (18–29 years) completed a survey at a large Southern United States university between January and May 2018.

Methods

The survey assessed depression symptoms (PHQ9), whether students were aware of the help-line they had access to, stigma beliefs about depression/suicide, stigma of seeking help (SSOSH), predictors of intention to utilize the help-line (RAT) and behavioral approach and avoidance motivation (BIS/BAS).

Results

Students showed mild symptoms of depression (M = 6.60, SD = 5.13) and knew about the help-line (74.8%), but expressed low intentions to use it (M = 1.5, SD = 0.97; 7-pt scale). Depression symptoms influenced the strength of association between determinants and intentions to use a help-line (β = 0.25, p < 0.001). Participants with depression symptoms were also more likely to endorse adverse beliefs about depression/suicide (β = 0.11, p = 0.025).

Conclusion

Help-lines should be promoted by activating and reinforcing positive outcome expectations. Health campaigns should also address adverse beliefs in this population.

中文翻译：

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绕过候补名单：检查有抑郁症状的大学生使用求助热线的障碍和促进因素

摘要

背景

大量美国大学生患有抑郁症，但现有资源无法满足需求。

目标

这项研究确定了使用帮助热线的心理决定因素，并检查了潜在的障碍，以便为有效的帮助热线推广提供信息。

参与者

2018 年 1 月至 5 月期间，406 名本科生（18-29 岁）在美国南部一所大型大学完成了一项调查。

方法

该调查评估了抑郁症状 (PHQ9)、学生是否知道他们可以使用的帮助热线、对抑郁/自杀的污名化信念、寻求帮助的污名化 (SSOSH)、使用帮助热线 (RAT) 的意向预测因素和行为方法和回避动机（BIS/BAS）。

结果

学生表现出轻微的抑郁症状（M  = 6.60，SD  = 5.13）并且知道求助热线（74.8%），但表示使用它的意愿很低（M  = 1.5，SD  = 0.97；7 分量表）。抑郁症状影响决定因素和使用求助热线的意图之间的关联强度（β  = 0.25，p  < 0.001）。有抑郁症状的参与者也更有可能赞同关于抑郁/自杀的负面信念（β  = 0.11，p  = 0.025）。

结论

应该通过激活和加强积极的结果预期来推广帮助热线。健康运动还应解决这一人群的不良信念。