Determinants of mental health service utilization among young adults with anxiety disorders
AI Summary
Suicidal thoughts strongly predict higher mental health service utilisation in both early and late young adults.
Among early young adults, higher education and being married are associated with greater service utilisation; lower education and single status warrant prioritised support.
In late young adults, post-traumatic stress disorder increases utilisation, whereas alcohol use disorder markedly reduces mental health service uptake.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2026 May 23. doi: 10.1186/s12913-026-14697-7. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health issues faced by young adults, who experience the highest lifetime prevalence of these conditions. Despite the increasing rates of anxiety disorders, mental health service utilization within this demographic remains notably low. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing mental health service utilization among young adults with anxiety disorders, distinguishing between early young adults (19-29 years) and late young adults (30-39 years), to propose tailored support strategies.
METHODS: Data from the 2021 National Mental Health Survey of Korea, which included 395 adults diagnosed with anxiety disorders, were analyzed. Complex sample logistic regression was used to assess how sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and comorbid mental health issues impact service utilization.
RESULTS: Among early young adults, higher education (odds ratio [OR] = 6.57), being married (OR = 7.02), and suicidal thoughts (OR = 29.42) were significantly associated with increased mental health service utilization. For late young adults, suicidal thoughts (OR = 10.79) and post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 15.87) were significant predictors of higher service use, while alcohol use disorder was associated with lower service utilization (OR = 0.07).
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need to prioritize support for early young adults with lower education, single status, and suicidal thoughts, as well as late young adults with alcohol use disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or suicidal thoughts. Implementing these strategies may enhance mental health management and improve the overall quality of life for young adults.
Neurol Ther. 2026 May 24. doi: 10.1007/s40120-026-00956-6. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Sun exposure may influence MS susceptibility, but evidence in pediatric-onset MS (PedMS) is limited....
J Behav Med. 2026 May 24. doi: 10.1007/s10865-026-00666-2. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTProlonged exposure (PE) is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. However, the imaginal exposure portion...
Cult Med Psychiatry. 2026 May 24;50(2):34. doi: 10.1007/s11013-026-09993-0.ABSTRACTFollowing the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, children in affected regions exhibited everyday behaviors that challenge conventional psychological...
J Trauma Stress. 2026 May 24. doi: 10.1002/jts.70094. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn this commentary on Morland et al. (2026)'s recent State of the Science article...
BMC Psychol. 2026 May 23;14(1):778. doi: 10.1186/s40359-026-04829-3.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Child sexual abuse and exploitation, including online material depicting such acts, constitute a major public health concern. Prevention...
Adv Simul (Lond). 2026 May 23. doi: 10.1186/s41077-026-00446-7. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: Increasingly in psychiatric and psychotherapeutic training, simulated patients (SPs) participate in the teaching...
