˝
20
April2021

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER’S STUDY PUBLISHED IN AUJUS AND PRESENTED AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

ByKate Abbate

We want to celebrate Kristyn Waldron, a previous Military REACH Undergraduate Researcher, on the research fellowship she completed this semester. During her research fellowship, she conducted a study titled “ROTC cadets’ help-seeking attitudes: Examining the role of leadership style” that will be published in the Auburn University Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship (AUJUS) and presented this month at the national conference, Partnerships for Veteran & Military Health Conference: Inspiring a Community of Care and Connection.

The current study sought to answer two research questions:

  1. What is the factor structure of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help (Fisher & Farina, 1995) measure among ROTC cadets?
  2. How is leadership style associated with help-seeking?

This study found that leaders who had a relationship-oriented leadership style (i.e., value relationships, show concern for others, and help group members get along) were more open to seeking help. Additionally, leaders who were able to have socio-cultural conversations (e.g., conversations about social issues, religion, politics) with peers were also more open to seeking treatment. Implications from these findings include promoting relationship-oriented leadership and emphasizing the importance of having socio-cultural conversations across multiple disciplines including businesses, health care settings, military units, and university settings which, in turn, may promote positive mental health within leaders and the individuals they lead.

Congratulations, Kristyn! It is an incredible accomplishment to have your work published in a journal and to present the findings at a national conference prior to graduating!

MOBILIZING RESEARCH, PROMOTING FAMILY READINESS.

These materials were developed as a result of a partnership funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) between the DoD's Office of Military Community and Family Policy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) through a grant/cooperative agreement with Auburn University. USDA/NIFA Award No. 2021-48710-35671.


© 2025 Military REACHPrivacy Statement | Accessibility Plan

Cookie Preferences

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Please review our Privacy Statement for more information.

Necessary cookies: Essential for the website to function properly.

Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website.