Date

6-17-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Laura Rolen

Keywords

Mental health, first-generation college students, Latino/Hispanic students, help-seeking behavior, health belief model, cross-cultural psychology, familismo, stigma, narrative inquiry, mental health service utilization, higher education, trauma, biblical integration

Disciplines

Higher Education | Psychology

Abstract

Mental health challenges among college students in the United States have increased in recent years, yet first-generation Latino/Hispanic college students continue to underutilize available services while facing unique cultural and structural barriers to care. This qualitative narrative study explored how first-generation Latino/Hispanic college students made meaning of mental health help-seeking in relation to perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and cultural values such as familismo and stigma. Guided by the health belief model and cross-cultural psychology, this study recruited 15 participants from four-year institutions in the United States and collected data through an online asynchronous questionnaire. Thematic and narrative analysis revealed that help-seeking was shaped by family expectations, stigma, silence, faith, trust, and the perceived cultural relevance of services. Participants described help-seeking as a gradual, negotiated process rather than a single decision. Findings also showed that students viewed support as broader than formal counseling alone, emphasizing peer connection and low-pressure wellness spaces. These findings support the need for culturally responsive, trust-building, and accessible mental health support for first-generation Latino/Hispanic college students.

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