Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
A model of intention to provide mental health first aid in college students
Douglas A Spiker1, Joseph H Hammer1
1Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Background:
Psychologically distressed college students' peers are often the first line of mental health support. Mental health first aid (MHFA) focuses on the quality of early intervention provided by peers to those in psychological distress but has neglected what motivates college students to provide MHFA.
Aims:
The current study used the MHFA framework and bystander theory as a foundation to examine factors influencing college students' intention to provide MHFA.
Methods:
Participants were 778 U.S. college students from a larger group of college students (N = 29,765) from the 2015-2016 Healthy Minds Study archival dataset. Secondary data analysis using path analysis modeling was used to test for both direct and indirect effects.
Results:
The specified path analysis model demonstrated exact fit to the data, χ2(67) = 82.359, p = 0.098. Personal stigma decreased MHFA intention, whereas both perceived MHFA efficacy and personal responsibility increased MHFA intention. Of note, perceiving campus climate as supportive of helping others indirectly increased MHFA intention.
Conclusions:
The current study supports a theory-driven framework rooted in the MHFA and bystander theory literature that could facilitate targeted interventions aimed at improving mental health prevention via college student prosocial behavior.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:31Student t Distribution
The Student t distribution was developed by William S. Goset (1876–1937) of the...
01:25Microsoft Excel: Student's t-Test
To conduct a t-test in Excel, use the T.TEST function or the "Data...
01:18Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...
01:25Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...