Browsing by Autor "Marcelo A. Crockett"

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Mental health service use and barriers to help-seeking among LGBTQ+ first-year college students in Chile
(Taylor & Francis, 2024) Marcelo A. Crockett; Vania Martínez; Scarlett Mac‐Ginty; Álvaro I. Langer; Jorge Gaete; Daniel Núñez; Irene Léniz
This study aimed to describe university students' use of mental health services and the barriers to help-seeking by sexual orientation and gender identity and to examine the factors related to these variables. A total of 7,136 first-year students from five Chilean universities participated. They answered an online survey on mental health service use, barriers to help-seeking, 12-month mental disorders, and sociodemographic variables. Data were analyzed using logistic and negative binomial regression models. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) students, especially trans and gender non-conforming participants, reported higher mental health service use than non-LGBTQ+ students. Sexual minority students were less likely to report the help-seeking barriers "prefer to handle on one's own" and "talk with friends/family", but were more likely to report the barriers "cost", "unsure where to go", and "time, transportation, or scheduling problems". Some variables were associated with service use and barriers in both groups (e.g. lower parental education was associated with lower service use), while others were only associated with one group (e.g. non-LGBTQ+ women reported higher service use). These results suggest that initiatives aimed at promoting access to mental health services should be tailored to different subpopulations of university students.
Technology Use and Psychopathology among Early Adolescents in a Rural Context in Chile
(2024) Jorge Gaete; Marcelo A. Crockett; Isabel Pavez
<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> The association between technology and mental health problems among adolescents has been widely studied. However, little is known about this relationship in rural contexts, characterized by poverty, isolation, and low-income family environments. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between experiences of online risks, dependence, cyberbullying, and parental mediation with mental health outcomes among students in grades 5 to 8 living in rural areas in Chile. <bold>Methods:</bold> This cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural locality in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Two hundred nineteen adolescents attending grades 5 to 8 from three state schools consented to participate. The participants answered questions regarding online risk experiences, cyberbullying, sleep routine, parental mediation, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess mental health problems. For this purpose, SDQ subscales were used as dependent variables, and technology use variables, cyberbullying, sleep deprivation, and parental mediation were independent variables. Multiple regression models were conducted, using gender and age as control variables. <bold>Results:</bold> We found that exposure to online risk experiences was common, reaching up to 56.7% (“Have played online with strangers”). Victimization of cyberbullying was 22.4%, and 1 in three students reported sleeping less than 8 hours at night. Emotional and hyperactivity/inattention problems were the most prevalent psychological problems in this population. Unsolicited violent content was associated with peer problems; victimization was associated with higher emotional problems and better prosocial behavior. Perpetration was associated with a higher prevalence of conduct problems and lower prosocial behavior. Not having time to do other activities because of the technology use was associated with emotional and hyperactivity/inattention problems. Sleep deprivation was associated with emotional and conduct problems, and active parental mediation was associated with a reduction in peer problems. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> This is the first study in Chile exploring the association between technology use and psychopathology among early adolescents in a rural context. Our results accentuate the need for continuous research efforts and targeted interventions that aim to support healthy technology use and proactively address the risk of adverse mental health outcomes within this vulnerable population.