COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

Allison Tidwell and Brianna Gordon: Poster titled "Choosing helping hands: Examining patterns of help-seeking from mental healthcare providers among soldiers experiencing stress"

• Using data from 9,236 Soldiers who participated in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers, the current study describes patterns of past-year help-seeking from mental healthcare providers among active-duty Soldiers. Findings inform efforts to increase mental healthcare utilization by understanding who Soldiers turn to when experiencing stress.

Haley Sherman: Presentation titled "Examining the dimensionality of a Combat Experiences Scale and examining if religion/spirituality buffers the impact combat exposure has on mental health symptoms"

• Through the lens of religious coping theory, the aims of this study were multifaceted. First, the dimensionality of a Combat Experiences Scale, the measure used in the Army STARRS dataset, was examined among a sample of 13,155 Soldiers. Next the direct effects of combat exposure on anxiety and depressive symptoms were examined. Then, a Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted to examine whether different groups of Soldiers emerged based on indicators of religiosity, spirituality, and religious attendance. The final analysis examined if the LPA groups moderated the relationship between combat exposure and the mental health symptoms.

Sheila Sjolseth: Poster titled "Back-off pressuring schools: A systemwide structure to meet the child mental health crisis"

• School-based mental health (SBMH) programming intends to increase mental health services; however, the current structure cannot meet the rising need. This analysis reviewed the empirical literature on SBMH programming, COVID-19 stressors, and child mental health policies. Results call for a multi-tiered system, informed by experts across disciplines, and served by multi-sectors of the community.

Continue reading to learn more about the other research presented at the symposium: http://humsci.auburn.edu/research/grs_abstracts_2023.php