University students' mental health first aid for peers with symptoms of depression

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14178
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10030:Clinical psychology-related
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: KAWAI Teruhisa 山形大学, 地域教育文化学部, 准教授 (60780509)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大学生 / うつ病 / メンタルヘルスファーストエイド / 友人関係スタイル / 傾聴 / 援助要請を勧める

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The research question for this study is what elements comprise listening skills and skills to recommend seeking professional helps for friends developing depression, and does the degree of confidence in carrying them out vary depending on the friendship style. Results of a web-based survey suggested the following: (ⅰ)listening skills consists of two domains: cognitive skills (e.g., "understanding") and behavioral skills(e.g., "reflection") . (ⅱ)skills to recommend seeking professional helps consists of "awareness and appraisal of problems", "support for decision-making" and "encouragement". In addition, university students who respected themselves more than they cared about others in their friendships were less confident in listening to their depressed friends and recommending that they seek professional help.

Free Research Field

臨床心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は次の二点である。第一に，うつ病発症期の大学生に対する援助行動のうち，「話を聴く」ことや「専門家に援助を求めるよう勧める」ことの多面性を明らかにした点である。第二に，それらを実行する自信の程度は，大学生の友人関係の取り方によって異なることを明らかにした点である。
うつ病発症期の大学生への初期支援に関する啓発・教育に関する効果指標を得たこと，大学生の友人関係の特徴ごとに発揮されやすい（あるいは，されにくい）援助行動を示すことで，従来型の一律的な知識提供や技能訓練を超えた啓発・教育のあり方を示せたことが本研究の社会的意義といえる。