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Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3728-1682
Date Available
4-27-2028
Year of Publication
2026
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
Communication and Information Studies
Department/School/Program
Communication
Faculty
Kimberly Parker
Faculty
Renee Kaufmann
Abstract
International graduate-student parents may face significant mental health challenges due to the combined pressures of academic work, caregiving responsibilities, and cultural adjustment. Despite experiencing stress, anxiety, and burnout, many do not seek professional help due to cultural stigma, financial constraints, and systemic barriers.
This dissertation employs a four-phase study to explore these challenges and develop targeted interventions. Phases one and two used the health belief model (HBM) to examine barriers and facilitators to help-seeking, revealing that cultural expectations and financial strain deter many from seeking support. Phase three builds on these findings by integrating narrative and inoculation theories to craft messages designed to reduce stigma and encourage professional help-seeking. These messages are tested through focus group discussions and refined based on participant feedback. In Phase four, the revised messages are experimentally tested to evaluate their impact.
By integrating HBM, narrative theory, and inoculation theory, this study contributes to the field of health communication and offers actionable insights for institutional policies aimed at supporting international graduate student-parents. The findings aim to guide strategies that reduce stigma, increase awareness of mental well-being resources, and improve access to mental health services for this vulnerable population.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.130
Archival?
Archival
Recommended Citation
Amissah, Anne A., "“YOU DON’T HAVE TO CARRY THIS ALONE”: A MULTI-PHASE, THEORY-DRIVEN MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT‑PARENTS" (2026). Theses and Dissertations--Communication. 151.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/comm_etds/151
