1. Mental Health Utilization Among College Aged Men and Women: A Dual-Site Comparison Sean Stickney Soc. 574 4/28/05

2. Overview Introduction Gender is a critical determinant of health behavior – including mental health. Exploration of gender differences in use of mental health-related services (MHS) has blossomed in recent years. (SAMHSA) 1987 – women = 60% more likely to use mental health services than men. (SAMHSA) 2000 = 66% of mental health users were women. Men had higher average spending levels when using mental health care services (> 80%).

3. Background Why gender disparities exist in seeking mental health care? Women have higher prevalence rates of psychiatric /psychological disorders than do men. Emotional problems are more distressing to women. Women differ in their propensity to use services. Arguments don’t explain how men and women differ ‘Need’ – acted upon differently by men/women ‘Receptivity’ – contextual appropriateness

4. Background (cont.) ‘Receptivity’ Mental health care in still stigmatized in the U.S. Men are socially conditioned to minimize mental health needs. (i.e. – ‘unmanly’) What about socio-cultural or regional differences? Mental health use tied to social and political climates, financial resources, accessibility California versus Indiana (divergent mental health ideologies of receptivity)

5. Present research Aim To explore gender differences in the mental health utilization practices of college-aged men and women within different academic settings. Study objectives Describe the statistical trends regarding mental health use for both UCLA and Purdue. Compare/contrast utilization rates among both schools. Compare/contrast utilization rates among and across genders within each university.

6. Research Hypotheses 1. College-aged individuals from UCLA would utilize MHS in greater amounts than people from Purdue. 2. Women would utilize proportionately greater amounts of MHS when compared to men.

7. Methods Descriptive analysis (proportions/percentages) Mental health utilization statistics within most recent academic year stratified by types of services used & gender. Coding rubric Collapsed all treatment categories into: A. Depression/anxiety conditions B. Body image / disordered eating C. Psychiatric services D. Family / child support services E. ‘Other’ – group counseling, referrals, mental health education / promotion efforts.

8. Results Utilization trends UCLA = 460/ 38598 (1.2%) used MHS 297 women (64%) 163 men (35%) When substance use/abuse factored out = 71% women, 29% men used more ’ traditional ‘ MHS. Purdue = 335 / 38847 (.86%) used MHS 186 women (55%) 149 men (44%)

9. Results 64 4435 55

10. Results 29% of male MHS users at UCLA sought more traditional types of counseling. 24.4% of male MHS users at Purdue sought care for more traditional mental health services.

11. Women Women at UCLA used proportionately more MH care services than did women from Purdue. Results

12. Comparisons of MHS use use among genders Across most categories women used more MHS than men.

13. Conclusions / Limitations MH use = UCLA > Purdue – men from Purdue utilized proportionately higher amounts of MHC for substance use/abuse than both UCLA men and women generally. Women used more MH care than men Regional differences existed Could have explored individual psycho-social perceptions of mental health service utilization among/within genders.