Demographic examination of college students\u27 attitudes toward utilizing counseling centers.

Recent research has shown that the prevalence, severity, and chronicity of college students\u27 psychological problems have increased throughout the last decade. Despite this increase, college students are less likely than members of the general population to seek counseling. While much research has examined possible explanations of this problem, no research has examined the demographics of the college student population to determine if demographic variables relate to the underutilization of counseling services. In the current study, participants completed a brief demographic survey and the Intentions to Seek Counseling Inventory (ISCI). The relationships of gender, ethnicity, age, and location of upbringing to college students\u27 reported willingness to seek counseling for psychological problems were examined. While demographic variables did not directly relate to avoidance of counseling, interactions between these variables suggest that demographics may explain why some students are less likely to seek counseling than others. Results also reinforced recent evidence suggesting that college students report being less willing to seek counseling than the general population