Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Information overload has become increasingly problematic within the world of mental health, as people are able to go online and access overwhelming amounts of mental health-related information within seconds. The aim of the current study was to examine the interaction between excess mental health information and individuals’ understanding of mental health, specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as self-diagnosis. Data from 128 participants was examined. The data collected related to participants’ online search and use patterns of ASD information, their understanding of ASD symptoms, as well as their experiences with those symptoms. Results indicated a significant positive correlation between the identification of accurate ASD symptoms and the belief in one’s own susceptibility to ASD, suggesting that the more accurate ASD symptoms a person identifies, the more they believe they are susceptible to ASD. There was also a slight negative relationship between the endorsement of inaccurate ASD symptoms and the belief in one’s own susceptibility to ASD, suggesting the endorsement of more inaccurate ASD symptoms was associated with a lower belief in one’s own susceptibility to ASD. Results also showed there to be a significant positive relationship between belief in susceptibility to ASD and what percentage of all videos viewed related to ASD, as well as a significant positive relationship between belief in susceptibility to ASD and the number of locations in which participants viewed ASD information.

Year manuscript completed

2025

Year degree awarded

2025

Degree Awarded

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

College/School

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Thesis Advisor

Laura Liljequist

Committee Member

Jana Hackathorn

Committee Member

Patrick Cushen

Committee Member

Nikki Gaylord

Document Type

Thesis

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