Exploring the Relationship Between Military Veterans and Their Attitudes Towards Mental Health Counseling

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Williams, K. (2022). Exploring the Relationship Between Military Veterans and Their Attitudes Towards Mental Health Counseling. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The United States veteran population continues to grow, presenting increasing concerns about mental health needs of this unique group. Veterans are at a higher risk of military-related problems and mental health issues, particularly given that the United States has continuously engaged in war for almost two decades (Ganz et al., 2021; Hoffmire, & Denneson, 2018; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2019). Many actions have been taken to address barriers to mental health treatment for veterans including accessibility, mental health treatment training, research efforts for veteran subcultures, and increased public education (Congress.gov, n.d.; Dingfelder, 2009). Despite these efforts, the utilization of mental health services continues to be low among the veteran population and they do not present for mental health treatment in proportion to the identified mental health needs for this group (Ganz, et al., 2021; Ghahramanlou-Holloway, 2018; Seidman et al., 2018; Vogt et al., 2014; Coll, et. al., 2011). This research study utilized a non-experimental correlational survey design to explore the relationship between veterans’ (N=153) attitude towards mental health services and (a) race (b) gender (c) era of service in the military, (d) previous experiences with mental health and (e) education level. Standard multiple regressions indicated only one significant relationship between whites and beneficial attitudes toward mental health services. Gender, era of service, previous mental health experiences, and education level were insignificant in relation to beneficial attitudes. There were not statistically significant findings for pessimism toward mental health and the predictor variables.

Details
Author

Williams, Kimberly

Title

Exploring the Relationship Between Military Veterans and Their Attitudes Towards Mental Health Counseling

Physical Description

1 online resource (107 pages) : PDF

Date

2022

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The United States veteran population continues to grow, presenting increasing concerns about mental health needs of this unique group. Veterans are at a higher risk of military-related problems and mental health issues, particularly given that the United States has continuously engaged in war for almost two decades (Ganz et al., 2021; Hoffmire, & Denneson, 2018; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2019). Many actions have been taken to address barriers to mental health treatment for veterans including accessibility, mental health treatment training, research efforts for veteran subcultures, and increased public education (Congress.gov, n.d.; Dingfelder, 2009). Despite these efforts, the utilization of mental health services continues to be low among the veteran population and they do not present for mental health treatment in proportion to the identified mental health needs for this group (Ganz, et al., 2021; Ghahramanlou-Holloway, 2018; Seidman et al., 2018; Vogt et al., 2014; Coll, et. al., 2011). This research study utilized a non-experimental correlational survey design to explore the relationship between veterans’ (N=153) attitude towards mental health services and (a) race (b) gender (c) era of service in the military, (d) previous experiences with mental health and (e) education level. Standard multiple regressions indicated only one significant relationship between whites and beneficial attitudes toward mental health services. Gender, era of service, previous mental health experiences, and education level were insignificant in relation to beneficial attitudes. There were not statistically significant findings for pessimism toward mental health and the predictor variables.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Mental health

Degree

D.Ed.

Subject Area

Counseling

Advisor(s)

Harris, Henry

Committee Members

Foxx, Sejal
Abrams, Lyndon
Flowers, Claudia
Wood, Charles

Degree Note

Thesis (D.Ed.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2022.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Williams_uncc_0694D_13172

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:3120