Date of Conferral

8-18-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Danyelle Brooks

Abstract

Over recent years, concerns about the mental health of nursing students in the Mississippi Delta have increased. However, research indicated that many nursing students do not utilize mental health services. This population has received little research attention, creating a gap in the literature and leaving counselor educators and supervisors ill-equipped to prepare counselors to meet the needs of nursing students. This quantitative study examined whether attitudes toward mental health services, social and cultural stigmas, and demographic characteristics explained the variance in nursing students’ willingness to seek help. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, the study focused on three areas: (1) the extent to which attitudes predicted willingness to seek services, (2) the extent to which perceived stigma reduced willingness to seek services, and (3) the extent to which demographic variables predicted willingness to seek services. The study included 84 undergraduate nursing students in the Mississippi Delta. Direct multiple logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to determine odds ratios and differences in odds. Descriptive analysis summarized demographic characteristics. Results indicated that stigma-related factors accounted for approximately 12% of the variance in some students’ help-seeking behavior and significantly impacted help-seeking behaviors. Social and cultural stigmas and demographic variables (gender, age, ethnicity) did not significantly predict willingness to seek services. Recommendations included normalizing mental health. The findings may guide counselor educators and supervisors in developing targeted strategies to address the needs of undergraduate nursing students in the Mississippi Delta, who themselves serve underserved populations.

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