Investigating the Associations Between Mindfulness, Depression, Anxiety, and the Mental Health Resources Knowledge of College Students

In today's society, college students are more susceptible to depression and anxiety symptoms due to the overwhelming amount of stress from their academic environment and psychosocial stressors. This study aimed to explore the associations between mindfulness, depression, anxiety, and the mental health resource knowledge (MHRK) of college students at The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The theory of planned behavior served as the theoretical framework to assist in understanding the behaviors of students with mental health symptoms and how their positive personal attitudes towards mental health awareness and social norm beliefs/subjective norms can affect their behavior. An IRB-approved online survey constructed by the researcher collected intersectional Identity, student characteristics, and mental health-related variables including mindfulness, depression, anxiety, mental health resource knowledge, and use of university counseling and psychological services (CAPS). The survey was distributed through college campus-approved email list service, online and in-person classes, flyers with QR codes posted in the main high-foot-trafficked facilities, and peer-to-peer sharing. Data collection efforts yielded a mixed sample of 95 undergraduate and graduate students. Logistic regression and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression modeling strategies were employed to investigate the study research questions and interpret the data. Results from this study indicated that intersectional identity characteristics and mental health challenges were correlated with the use of CAPS. Furthermore, mindfulness and graduate student status showed a negative correlation with mental health symptoms. There was also an indication that having a GPA of B+ or greater, having a self-identified mental health challenge, and having a self-identified disability showed a positive correlation with mental health symptoms. Findings suggest that older age students and those with academic and life experience are more mindful and aware of MHRK. Additional research is necessary to further explore the connection between mindfulness and MHRK for college students to access mental health services for their mental health symptoms.