1. ADDRESSING
STUDENT MENTAL
HEALTH: A College
Counseling Center
Director Perspective
Vicki Chan Demographic & Social Analysis
Dr. Tim Bruckner Advisor
May 20, 2011
chanvw@uci.edu

2. Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders
• More prevalent than most people realize
– 1 in 4 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental
disorder in a given year
(Kessler et. al, 2005)
• College students are exhibiting more
severe mental illness than in the past
– More young people arrive on campus with
pre-existing mental health conditions
(Guthman, Locin, & Konstas, 2009)

3. Barriers to Counseling Services
• Key factors associated with use of
psychological services:
1. Access to counseling services
2. Affordability of counseling services
3. Academic experiences about mental health
(Rosenthal, 2007; Mowbray et al., 2006; Stefl & Prosperi, 1985)

4. Research Question
What factors best predict use of mental
health services in college counseling
centers?

5. Data Sources
• National Survey of College Counseling
Center Directors (2009)
– 43% response rate for web survey
– n = 302 administrative heads of college and
university counseling centers in U.S.
– Respondents invited through e-mail list serves
• Association of University and College Counseling
Center Directors (AUCCCD)
• College Counseling Directors (CCD)

6. Data Sources (Continued)
• National Survey of College Counseling
Center Directors (2009)
• U.S. Department of Education: National
Center for Education Statistics (2010-
2011)
– Total enrollment
– Financial Aid
– Race/Ethnicity Percentages

7. Methods
• Unit of analysis: School
• Dependent Variable
Proportion of students served =
Number of students who seek counseling___
Total number of students eligible for counseling*
*Includes all currently registered students

8. Heuristic Model
Levels of Access
Affordability Proportion of
School involvement students who
receive
Administrative barriers counseling
Proactiveness services
Ethnicity
Gender

9. Independent Variables
Levels of Access = Composite scale 0-14 based on:
• Number of full time mental health staff
• Session limits
• Client session average during past year
• After-hours/weekend calls for emergencies
• On campus psychiatric services
• Counseling center webpage
• Open at non-traditional hours
• Type of response to clients and nonclients
Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.36

10. Independent Variables (Continued)
Affordability = Composite scale 0-8 based on:
• Charge fee for counseling
• Cost per session
• Collect third party payments
• Center supported by mandatory fee
• Percent receiving any aid
Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.37

11. Independent Variables (Continued)
• School involvement (Index 0-11)
• Administrative barriers (Index 0-13)
• Proactiveness (Index 0-5)
• Ethnicity (% White, Hispanic, Asian,
Black)
• Gender (% Males)

12. Data Analysis
Step 1
• Ordinary least squares regression
• Logged dependent variable
– Interpreted as percent changes
Step 2
• Factor analysis
– To see which scale items best hold up

13. Centers that are more affordable and involved suggest
link to use of counseling services
Exponentiated Coefficients
Levels of Access 1.02
Affordability 1.08***
School Involvement 0.95***
Administrative Barriers 0.98
Proactiveness 1.03
Percents (Reference group=White)
Hispanic 0.52
Asian/Pacific Islander 4.10**
Black 0.60*
Male 1.12
p<0.05* p<0.01** p<0.001***

14. Schools with higher percent of Asians and Blacks
suggest link to use of counseling services
Exponentiated Coefficients
Levels of Access 1.02
Affordability 1.08***
School Involvement 0.95***
Administrative Barriers 0.98
Proactiveness 1.03
Percents (Reference group=White)
Hispanic 0.52
Asian/Pacific Islander 4.10**
Black 0.60*
Male 1.12
p<0.05* p<0.01** p<0.001*** R square = 0.12

15. Factor Analysis: Significant Scale Items
• Levels of Access
– Number of full time mental health staff
• Affordability
– Charge a fee for personal counseling
– Collect third-party payments

16. Conclusions on Use of Counseling Services
Greater affordability 8%
Greater school
involvement - 5%
Higher % Asian 310%
Higher % Black - 40%

17. Significance and Future Directions
• Now, college counseling centers have a guideline for
key areas of focus to improve their counseling
services
• These results can improve understanding of the
specific variables that influence usage of counseling
services
• Future research should focus on analyzing trends
students who seek psychiatric services in college
counseling centers by year

18. Acknowledgements
Dr. Tim Bruckner
Dr. Joanne Christopherson
Dr. Judith Treas
Dr. Yen-Sheng Chiang
Dr. Julie DaVanzo
Active Minds, Inc.
DASA Cohort of 2011
Thank you.

19. Percent Changes
Percent %
Accessibility 2%
Affordability 8%***
School Involvement -5%***
Administrative Barriers -2%
Proactiveness 3%
Percents (Reference group=White)
Hispanic -48%
Asian/Pacific Islander 310%**
Black -40%*
2 Or More Races 1%
Unknown Race/Ethnicity -1%
Non Resident Alien -5%***
Male 12%
p<0.05* p<0.01** p<0.001***

20. Higher percents of Asians, Blacks and Non-resident
aliens suggest influence in use of counseling services
Exponentiated Coefficients
Accessibility 1.02
Affordability 1.08***
School Involvement 0.95***
Administrative Barriers 0.98
Proactiveness 1.03
Percents (Reference group=White)
Hispanic 0.52
Asian/Pacific Islander 4.10**
Black 0.60*
2 Or More Races 1.01
Unknown Race/Ethnicity 0.99
Non Resident Alien 0.96***
Male 1.12
p<0.05* p<0.01** p<0.001***

21. Checks for Multicollinearity
Variable VIF
% Asian 1.38
% Hispanic 1.29
School Involvement 1.14
% 2 or more races 1.11
Affordability 1.11
% American Indian 1.11
Proactiveness 1.10
% Male 1.09
% Black 1.09
% Non Resident Alien 1.07
Levels of Assess 1.07
% Race Unknown 1.02
Mean VIF = 1.13