Love, Allison Experiences With Classism and Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes: The Roles of Shame and Self-Compassion. 2024. Radford University, Dissertation. Radford University Scholars' Repository.
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Abstract
College is a pivotal time in identity development. Experiences of discrimination based on one’s social class during this particularly formative time is known to affect a student’s sense of belonging, overall well-being, and attitudes toward seeking psychological help from a mental health provider. Guided by the theoretical framework of the everyday prejudice and discrimination literature, this study examined the mediating role of shame within the relationship between experiences with classism and attitudes about seeking mental-health services and the moderating role of self-compassion within the relationship between experiences with classism and shame. A sample of 482 college students from a medium sized southeastern university completed an online survey. The hypotheses were partially supported. Experiences with classism did not significantly predict mental-health help seeking attitudes. Although the indirect effect of help-seeking attitudes through shame was significant, the effect was quite small and of limited theoretical value. Experiences with classism and self-compassion both uniquely and significantly predicted shame, the interaction between experiences with classism and self-compassion was not significant. Finally, the hypothesis that self-compassion would moderate the mediation effect was not supported. Overall, the unexpected results underscore the continued necessity for researchers and clinicians to expand their understanding of students’ experiences on campus. In doing so, they can increase efforts to effectively design and implement strategies aimed at enhancing mental health support and promoting an academic environment supportive and inclusive of all students.
| Item Type: | Dissertation |
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| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Divisions: | Radford University > College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences > Department of Psychology |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Dec 2024 15:30 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Dec 2024 15:30 |
| URI: | http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/1134 |
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