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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Is mental health literacy for depression associated with the intention toward preventive actions? A cross-sectional study among university students

Jennifer L ReichelAnke OenemaPavel DietzFrancine SchneiderCarina Sauter

subject

AUSTRALIAN BACHELORCross-sectional studymental health literacymedia_common.quotation_subjectPublic Health Environmental and Occupational HealthPsychological interventionYOUNG-PEOPLEExplained variationSTIGMATIZING ATTITUDESPromotion (rank)intentionpreventive behaviorBELIEFSDepression preventionDISORDERS FINDINGSHELPAnalysis of varianceuniversity studentsPsychologyMental health literacyDepression (differential diagnoses)Depression preventionClinical psychologymedia_commonINTERVENTIONS

description

Objective Mental Health Literacy (MHL) might play an important role in preventing depression. This study assessed the MHL level for depression of university students and its association with intentions toward preventive actions against depression. Participants: University students (n = 315) were surveyed online. Methods: MHL level and group differences were analyzed using t-tests and one-way ANOVA. To investigate the relation between MHL and the intention for preventive actions against depression, correlation and regression analyses were performed. Results: The mean MHL level of the participants was reasonably high (42.65 of 75 points). MHL levels differed significantly between different groups. MHL was slightly associated with intention for preventive actions (beta = 0.274, p < 0.001). The explained variance was low (7.5%). Conclusions: MHL levels of university students have potential for improvement, especially among males and non-health related students. Promotion of MHL could be one of the targets points in interventions aimed at depression prevention.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2021-06-16Journal of American College Health
10.1080/07448481.2021.1942883https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1942883