April 4-6, 2024 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Innovations in Health Communication
Innovations in Health Communication
Abstract: Finding Their Way out of the Darkness: An Examination of Intention to Offer Social Support Among College Students
Background
Undergraduate students are particularly at risk for suffering from depression. Experiencing this mental disorder may detrimentally impact students socially, academically, and professionally which could severely jeopardize their interpersonal relationships and career prospects in the long-term. Although communication research cannot help treat depression, it can strive for facilitating social support among undergraduate students that could prevent adverse outcomes.
Objectives
Guided by the reasoned action approach, the present study builds on an elicitation study presented at DCHC 2023 exploring undergraduate students’ behavioral, normative, and control beliefs pertaining to offering social support to depressed friends or peers. Taking a formative research approach, the current study included findings obtained in the elicitation study to examine the factors influencing behavioral intention to offer social support among undergraduate students to help depressed friends or peers. Specifically, the study explored the influence of the antecedents of intention (i.e., attitude, perceived norms, perceived behavioral control), beliefs (i.e., behavioral, normative, control beliefs), and background factors (i.e., depression status, depression actual and perceived knowledge). Additionally, the influence of beliefs on the determinants of intention was examined, as well as the influence of background factors on beliefs.
Methods
The present quantitative study employed an online survey completed by 509 undergraduate students aged on average 21.28 years old (SD = 3.96). Among respondents, 61.3% self-identified as female, 37.1% as male, and 0.6% as other. Additionally, 52.5% reported being White, 27.3% Hispanic or Latino/a, 18.3% Black or African American, 8.4% Asian or Asian American, and 1.0% American Indian, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian. In terms of school year, 25.2% of participants were Freshmen, 19.7% Sophomores, 31.1% Juniors, and 24.0% Seniors.
Findings
Findings revealed instrumental attitude, perceived injunctive norms, and capacity accounted for 51.4% of the variance in intention with capacity being the strongest predictor. Further, instrumental attitude, perceived injunctive norms, capacity, descriptive normative beliefs, facilitators (i.e., control beliefs), and depression actual and perceived knowledge predicted 55.0% of intention to offer social support. Most beliefs influenced the antecedents of intention. Last, depression status and knowledge influenced beliefs.
Conclusion
To help inform how to facilitate social support among undergraduate students to assist depressed friends or peers, the present research examined factors that may influence students’ intention to engage in the social support behavior. Findings suggested the reasoned action approach explained, to some extent, behavioral intention to provide social support. Findings could help inform future message testing and the development of mental health campaign messages aimed to promote social support among undergraduate students.
Undergraduate students are particularly at risk for suffering from depression. Experiencing this mental disorder may detrimentally impact students socially, academically, and professionally which could severely jeopardize their interpersonal relationships and career prospects in the long-term. Although communication research cannot help treat depression, it can strive for facilitating social support among undergraduate students that could prevent adverse outcomes.
Objectives
Guided by the reasoned action approach, the present study builds on an elicitation study presented at DCHC 2023 exploring undergraduate students’ behavioral, normative, and control beliefs pertaining to offering social support to depressed friends or peers. Taking a formative research approach, the current study included findings obtained in the elicitation study to examine the factors influencing behavioral intention to offer social support among undergraduate students to help depressed friends or peers. Specifically, the study explored the influence of the antecedents of intention (i.e., attitude, perceived norms, perceived behavioral control), beliefs (i.e., behavioral, normative, control beliefs), and background factors (i.e., depression status, depression actual and perceived knowledge). Additionally, the influence of beliefs on the determinants of intention was examined, as well as the influence of background factors on beliefs.
Methods
The present quantitative study employed an online survey completed by 509 undergraduate students aged on average 21.28 years old (SD = 3.96). Among respondents, 61.3% self-identified as female, 37.1% as male, and 0.6% as other. Additionally, 52.5% reported being White, 27.3% Hispanic or Latino/a, 18.3% Black or African American, 8.4% Asian or Asian American, and 1.0% American Indian, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian. In terms of school year, 25.2% of participants were Freshmen, 19.7% Sophomores, 31.1% Juniors, and 24.0% Seniors.
Findings
Findings revealed instrumental attitude, perceived injunctive norms, and capacity accounted for 51.4% of the variance in intention with capacity being the strongest predictor. Further, instrumental attitude, perceived injunctive norms, capacity, descriptive normative beliefs, facilitators (i.e., control beliefs), and depression actual and perceived knowledge predicted 55.0% of intention to offer social support. Most beliefs influenced the antecedents of intention. Last, depression status and knowledge influenced beliefs.
Conclusion
To help inform how to facilitate social support among undergraduate students to assist depressed friends or peers, the present research examined factors that may influence students’ intention to engage in the social support behavior. Findings suggested the reasoned action approach explained, to some extent, behavioral intention to provide social support. Findings could help inform future message testing and the development of mental health campaign messages aimed to promote social support among undergraduate students.