College Student Health Studies Examine Substance Use Disclosure and Mental Health Help‑Seeking

A dissertation by Hayley Stahl at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln investigated barriers that college students who use drugs face when disclosing substance use to healthcare providers. Using the Theory of Motivated Information Management and Stigma Management Communication, the study identified communication efficacy, perceived benefits of disclosure, and internal stigma as key factors influencing disclosure decisions. The research produced a preliminary decision‑aid prototype that aligns with International Patient Decision Aid Standards.

A separate dissertation by Anna M. Gentile at the University at Albany examined how mental health literacy, personal stigma, and gender relate to help‑seeking intentions among 327 college students. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, the analysis found that higher mental health literacy strongly increases intentions to seek help, while personal stigma did not mediate this relationship and gender did not moderate it.