Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional study
Background: Mental health literacy (MHL) plays an integral role in addressing mental health challenges, reducing stigma, and promoting well-being among adolescents. This study intended to assess the MHL level and identify its socio-demographic determinants among late adolescents in India, which has...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398425001903 |
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| author | Sooraj Kookal Jyothi Chakrabarty Linu Sara George Samir Kumar Praharaj Judith Angelitta Noronha Baby S. Nayak R. Vani Lakshmi Soyuz John |
| author_facet | Sooraj Kookal Jyothi Chakrabarty Linu Sara George Samir Kumar Praharaj Judith Angelitta Noronha Baby S. Nayak R. Vani Lakshmi Soyuz John |
| author_sort | Sooraj Kookal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Mental health literacy (MHL) plays an integral role in addressing mental health challenges, reducing stigma, and promoting well-being among adolescents. This study intended to assess the MHL level and identify its socio-demographic determinants among late adolescents in India, which has the world's largest adolescent population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1536 late adolescents enrolled in undergraduate programs at institutions affiliated with Mangalore University in the Udupi district, Karnataka. Multistage cluster random sampling was used to recruit participants. Data were collected using the standardized Mental Health Literacy questionnaire -Young Adults and a socio-demographic proforma. One-way ANOVA and unpaired t-tests were used to compare MHL scores across demographic variables. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to identify the key determinants of MHL. Results: The mean global MHL score was 96.4 ± 9.4, indicating moderate MHL. Among participants,83 % had moderate,15 % low, and 2 % high MHL. Higher MHL scores were associated with females (P < .001), urban residence (P = .04), study streams (P < .001), academic year (P < .001), fathers' (P < .001) and mothers' education (P < .001), fathers' (P = .003) and mothers' occupation (P < .001) and monthly family income (P = .01). Ordinal logistic regression identified sex, study streams, parental education, and mothers’ occupation as the key determinants of MHL. Conclusion: The study found moderate MHL among the participants with significant socio-demographic disparities. Integrating MHL interventions into academic curricula, conducting campus-wide MHL campaigns, and improving mental health services in remote areas are essential to bridge these gaps. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0df633d14190407f94d3f5480f4e329a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2213-3984 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-0df633d14190407f94d3f5480f4e329a2025-08-20T02:47:06ZengElsevierClinical Epidemiology and Global Health2213-39842025-07-013410210110.1016/j.cegh.2025.102101Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional studySooraj Kookal0Jyothi Chakrabarty1Linu Sara George2Samir Kumar Praharaj3Judith Angelitta Noronha4Baby S. Nayak5R. Vani Lakshmi6Soyuz John7Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India; Corresponding author.Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Obstetrical and Gynecological Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Health Technology and Informatics, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, IndiaBackground: Mental health literacy (MHL) plays an integral role in addressing mental health challenges, reducing stigma, and promoting well-being among adolescents. This study intended to assess the MHL level and identify its socio-demographic determinants among late adolescents in India, which has the world's largest adolescent population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1536 late adolescents enrolled in undergraduate programs at institutions affiliated with Mangalore University in the Udupi district, Karnataka. Multistage cluster random sampling was used to recruit participants. Data were collected using the standardized Mental Health Literacy questionnaire -Young Adults and a socio-demographic proforma. One-way ANOVA and unpaired t-tests were used to compare MHL scores across demographic variables. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to identify the key determinants of MHL. Results: The mean global MHL score was 96.4 ± 9.4, indicating moderate MHL. Among participants,83 % had moderate,15 % low, and 2 % high MHL. Higher MHL scores were associated with females (P < .001), urban residence (P = .04), study streams (P < .001), academic year (P < .001), fathers' (P < .001) and mothers' education (P < .001), fathers' (P = .003) and mothers' occupation (P < .001) and monthly family income (P = .01). Ordinal logistic regression identified sex, study streams, parental education, and mothers’ occupation as the key determinants of MHL. Conclusion: The study found moderate MHL among the participants with significant socio-demographic disparities. Integrating MHL interventions into academic curricula, conducting campus-wide MHL campaigns, and improving mental health services in remote areas are essential to bridge these gaps.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398425001903AdolescentGender disparityHealth literacyMental healthMental health literacySocio-demographic determinants |
| spellingShingle | Sooraj Kookal Jyothi Chakrabarty Linu Sara George Samir Kumar Praharaj Judith Angelitta Noronha Baby S. Nayak R. Vani Lakshmi Soyuz John Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional study Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health Adolescent Gender disparity Health literacy Mental health Mental health literacy Socio-demographic determinants |
| title | Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in South India: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | mental health literacy and its determinants among late adolescents in south india a cross sectional study |
| topic | Adolescent Gender disparity Health literacy Mental health Mental health literacy Socio-demographic determinants |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398425001903 |
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