Racial/ethnic differences in college student openness to mental health apps
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Jazmin Reyes-Portillo
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 2:29 PM
Description
Digital mental health apps have grown in popularity, yet little is known about how race and ethnicity influence openness to these tools. Prior research suggests that stigma, discrimination, or lack of culturally competent care may deter help-seeking in traditional settings, particularly among people of color. Digital mental health tools may help reduce these barriers by offering more accessible and anonymous support options. This study explores whether race/ethnicity and symptom severity predict openness to using mental health apps among college students. Participants were drawn from a larger study examining cultural factors and mental health symptoms among undergraduates at a public university in New Jersey. Participants completed validated measures of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (SCARED), and alcohol use (AUDIT) and items assessing willingness to use mental health apps. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons were conducted using SPSS. Of the 827 participants, 37.2% identified as Non-Latinx White, 37.8% as Latinx, 12.8% as Non-Latinx Black, 7.9% as Non-Latinx Asian, and the rest as Multiracial, MENA, Native American, or “Other.” The sample was 80.8% female, with a mean age of 19.61 (SD = 2.03). Seventy-one percent of students reported being open to using a mental health app for mental health concerns. For the final presentation, we will examine differences in openness to using mental health apps between White and minoritized students. These findings may help inform culturally responsive digital interventions for underserved student populations.
Racial/ethnic differences in college student openness to mental health apps
Digital mental health apps have grown in popularity, yet little is known about how race and ethnicity influence openness to these tools. Prior research suggests that stigma, discrimination, or lack of culturally competent care may deter help-seeking in traditional settings, particularly among people of color. Digital mental health tools may help reduce these barriers by offering more accessible and anonymous support options. This study explores whether race/ethnicity and symptom severity predict openness to using mental health apps among college students. Participants were drawn from a larger study examining cultural factors and mental health symptoms among undergraduates at a public university in New Jersey. Participants completed validated measures of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (SCARED), and alcohol use (AUDIT) and items assessing willingness to use mental health apps. Descriptive statistics and group comparisons were conducted using SPSS. Of the 827 participants, 37.2% identified as Non-Latinx White, 37.8% as Latinx, 12.8% as Non-Latinx Black, 7.9% as Non-Latinx Asian, and the rest as Multiracial, MENA, Native American, or “Other.” The sample was 80.8% female, with a mean age of 19.61 (SD = 2.03). Seventy-one percent of students reported being open to using a mental health app for mental health concerns. For the final presentation, we will examine differences in openness to using mental health apps between White and minoritized students. These findings may help inform culturally responsive digital interventions for underserved student populations.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.