Jennifer L Reichel1, Pavel Dietz1, Carina Sauter2, Francine Schneider3, Anke Oenema3. 1. Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the University of Mainz,Mainz, Germany. 2. Blindeninstitut, Würzbug, Germany. 3. Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
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.
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.
Entities:
Keywords:
Depression prevention; intention; mental health literacy; preventive behavior; university students
Authors: Pavel Dietz; Antonia M Werner; Jennifer L Reichel; Markus Schäfer; Lina M Mülder; Manfred Beutel; Perikles Simon; Stephan Letzel; Sebastian Heller Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-03-24