First Advisor

Lauren Frank

Term of Graduation

Spring 2023

Date of Publication

7-25-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication

Department

Communication

Language

English

Subjects

Veterans -- Pacific Northwest -- Attitudes, Help-seeking behavior, Veterans -- Mental health -- Pacific Northwest, Veterans -- Medical care

DOI

10.15760/etd.3589

Physical Description

1 online resource (iv, 67 pages)

Abstract

Mental health illnesses are a growing issue for a large part of the country, and veterans in particular are vulnerable to the numerous negative effects they pose. Despite the high number of people that may benefit from treatment, a variety of issues with trust, stigma, and attitudes may act as barriers to care utilization. In response, this study investigated the perceptions that veterans within the Pacific Northwest hold in regards to mental health treatment as well as their intentions to seek it out should they require it. Using the integrated model of behavioral prediction (IMBP), data was gathered about veterans’ various perceived norms, attitudes, and levels of self-efficacy as well as trust and treatment-seeking intent. This study (N = 110) found strong associations between their intent to seek out mental health treatment and their perceived trust in the VA, levels of self-efficacy, and lower levels of self-reliance. This study then provides evidence-based recommendations to improve messaging such as message hybridization, education programs, and the reframing of various attitudes veterans reported.

Rights

© Quinn Turner Stoddard

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40588

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