Individual Differences and Mental Health in Emerging Adults

Publication Date

4-22-2026

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

College of Sciences & Mathematics

Department

Psychological Sciences and Neurosciences, Department of

Metadata/Fulltext

Metadata ONLY

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

Existing research shows that many stigmas stem from societal misconceptions about mental health (Ahad et al., 2023), which can lead individuals to avoid seeking help. During emerging adulthood, individuals (particularly college students) are likely to have higher levels of stress, uncertainty, and risk for depression (Brito et al., 2023), pointing to the importance of mental help-seeking in this population. Therefore, it is essential to understand the relationship between exposure to mental health stigma and attitudes/intentions regarding mental help-seeking (Harvey et al., 2023). Additionally, personality traits such as openness have complex association with help-seeking constructs (Murphy, 2024). Thus, this study examined openness as a moderator of relationships involving mental health stigma, help-seeking attitudes/intentions, and social distance from those with mental disorders. Emerging adult college students (N = 80; Mage = 23.90) filled out a survey measuring demographics, exposure to mental health stigma in childhood/adolescence, personality, mental help-seeking attitudes/intentions, and keeping social distance from those with mental disorders. Results indicated that stigma exposure predicted higher instances of trying to socially distance oneself from those with mental disorders, and openness predicted lower levels of social distance, but openness did not moderate the relationship between stigma and social distance. Furthermore, openness predicted more positive mental help-seeking attitudes/intentions, but stigma exposure did not predict attitudes/intention, and openness did not moderate the relationship between stigma and attitudes/intentions. Results underscore the importance of both individual (e.g., openness) and environmental (e.g., stigma exposure) in predicting how emerging adult college students approach mental health in themselves and in others.

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