Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion (보건교육건강증진학회지)

Korean Society for Health Education and Promotion (한국보건교육건강증진학회)
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Factors Influencing Use of Mental Health Helping Systems among College Students in Korea

한국대학생의 정신건강 원조체계 활용에 영향을 미치는 요인

  • Lee, Sun-Hae (Department of Social Welfare, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Chung, Sul-Ki (Department of Social Welfare, Chung-Ang University)
  • Published : 2008.12.30
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Abstract

Objective: This study examined the use of mental health helping systems among college students in Korea. A behavioral model of health service utilization was applied to examine factors influencing different types of helping systems. Methods: A total of 454 college students from four universities participated in the survey. A self-administered questionnaire measuring help-seeking behaviors including formal health and mental health services, informal helping system, peer group, and family support was used. Results: Respondents frequently turn to family members and peer group when in need, and age, sex, mental Health status, and attitude and knowledge on mental illness were significant factors affecting help-seeking behaviors of Korean students. While older students and those with more severe symptoms were more likely to seek help from formal resources, students with more severe symptoms were less likely to seek help from informal resources. Male students and those with negative attitude toward mental illness were less likely to ask peer groups for help. Conclusions: Study results indicate that informal resources and peer groups can be significant sources of social support for individuals in their late adolescence and young adulthood, however, their role as gateways to professional help is limited. Student counseling centers should take on a more active role in reaching out; implications for developing peer leaders as counselors and self-help groups are discussed.

목적: 이 연구는 한국 대학생의 정신건강 원조체계 활용을 고찰하는데 일차적 목적을 두곤 보건의료서비스 이용에 관한 모델을 적용하여 다양한 정신건강 원조체계의 활용에 영향을 미치는 요인들을 파악하고자 했다. 방법: 수도권에 위치한 4년제 대학 4곳에서 총 454명의 학생들이 본 연구를 위한 설문에 참여했다. 자기응답식 설문지를 사용하여 공식적 보건의료 및 정신보건서비스, 비공식적 원조체계, 동년배 집단, 가족지지로 구분되는 다양한 원조체계와 관련된 도움요청 행위(help-seeking behavior)에 관한 자료를 수집했다. 결과: 조사 응답자들은 심리정신적 어려움에 처했을 때 흔히 도움을 요청하는 대상으로 가족이나 동년배 집단에 속하는 다양한 유형의 대상을 꼽았으며, 이들 다양한 유형의 자원에 도움을 구하는데 영향을 미치는 요인으로 나이, 성별, 심리정신적 증상, 정신질환에 대한 지식, 태도가 유의미하게 나타났다. 나이와 심리정신적 증상이 높을수록 공식적 서비스를 활용할 가능성이 높았으며, 증상이 심한 경우 비공식적 자원(종교인, 교수 등)에 도움을 요청할 가능성이 낮았다. 남학생의 경우와 정신질환에 대해 부정적 지식과 태도를 갖고 있는 경우는 동년배(선후배, 동성 및 이성친구 등)에게 도움을 요청할 가능성이 낮았다. 결론: 비공식적 자원이나 동년배 집단은 발달적으로 청소년후기 및 청년전기에 속하는 대학생 집단에 있어 사회적 지지로서, 전문적 도움의 관문으로서 중요한 역할을 할 수 있음에도 불구하고 그 역할이 제한적이므로, 동년배상담자 훈련이나 자조집단 육성 등을 비롯한 대학 상담부서의 적극적인 정신건강 아웃리치(outreach) 노력이 필요하다.

Keywords

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