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Psychotherapy utilization by United States college students
Gavin N Rackoff1, Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft2, C Barr Taylor3,4
1Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|July 12, 2023
Summary
Only 19% of college students with mental health issues utilize psychotherapy. Factors like gender, race, and financial difficulty influence access, highlighting potential disparities in mental healthcare for students.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health Research
- Higher Education Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- College students face significant mental health challenges.
- Access to and utilization of mental health services, particularly psychotherapy, is a critical concern in this demographic.
- Understanding current utilization patterns is essential for improving support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the current rates of psychotherapy utilization among college students with diagnosed mental health conditions.
- To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and institutional characteristics associated with varying psychotherapy usage.
- To examine temporal trends in psychotherapy utilization, including the impact of the early COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide online survey was administered to 18,435 college students screening positive for at least one clinical mental health problem.
- Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were employed to analyze utilization rates and their correlates.
- Data collection spanned periods before, during, and after the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Results:
- Overall, 19% of surveyed college students reported receiving psychotherapy.
- Lower utilization was associated with male gender, Asian, Black, African American, or Multiracial race/ethnicity, greater financial difficulty, lower parental education, lower academic standing, and public institution attendance.
- Higher utilization was linked to gender minority and sexual minority identities.
- A notable decline in utilization occurred from Fall 2019 to Spring 2020, with a subsequent rebound.
Conclusions:
- This study provides current estimates of psychotherapy utilization among college students experiencing mental health problems.
- Significant disparities in access and utilization exist, suggesting certain student populations may be underserved.
- Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve equitable access to mental healthcare in higher education settings.
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