Student intentions to engage instructors in mental health-related conversations: An application of the theory of planned behavior

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 914 - 922
• Main Authors: White, Allie, Ball, Hannah, LaBelle, Sara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 23.03.2024; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Behavior; College students; instructor-student communication; Intention; Learner Engagement; Learning Objectives; Mental health; Norms; Perceived control; Perceptions; Student behavior; Student teacher relationship; Theory of planned behavior; Undergraduate students; theory of planned behavior; College students; instructor-student communication; mental health
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2060710

Considering that college students experience mental health issues and college counseling centers are overwhelmed, this study identifies instructors as a potential mental health resource for students. This study utilizes the theory of planned behavior to investigate the relationship between students' attitudes, injunctive and descriptive norms, perceived behavioral control, and their intentions to engage their instructors in mental health conversations. Participants were 311 undergraduate students at a small, private university in Southern California. Participants were recruited through a Communication subject pool and completed an online survey about engaging instructors in these conversations. Results of a regression analysis indicate that all theoretical constructs positively predict students' intentions to discuss mental health with an instructor. By providing insight into students' intentions to utilize instructors as mental health resources on campus, these findings yield practical implications for better preparing universities and their faculty to engage in students' mental health.