Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Turkey
Abstract Objective Mental health literacy refers to people’s knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders, their ability to recognize them, and their knowledge of help-seeking decisions. There is a lack of knowledge regarding health literacy in older adults in Turkiye. Aim The aim of current study i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00845-7 |
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| author | Elif Saraç Remziye Can Esra Yildiz |
| author_facet | Elif Saraç Remziye Can Esra Yildiz |
| author_sort | Elif Saraç |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Mental health literacy refers to people’s knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders, their ability to recognize them, and their knowledge of help-seeking decisions. There is a lack of knowledge regarding health literacy in older adults in Turkiye. Aim The aim of current study is to measure the level of mental health literacy of older individuals and to create new grounds about the topic. Methods For this cross-sectional study, 163 cognitively healthy people aged ≥ 65 were included. Demographic characteristics form and “Mental Health Literacy Scale-TR” were used to collect data. Age, marital status, and education were identified as associated with mental health literacy. Results The mean age of participants was 70.71 ± 4.35. 41.7% of them were male and 8.6% of them had Bachelor’s Degree. The mean score of Mental Health Literacy Scale-TR was 12.42 ± 3.68. Conclusion Mental health literacy level of older adults was moderate.The findings underscore the ongoing need for communities to support the development of mental health literacy skills among elderly individuals. Additionally, present study emphasizes the importance of further investigating mental health help-seeking behaviors, and the stigma surrounding mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3abadb3a6910419081385b20e0574b2a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 3005-0774 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-3abadb3a6910419081385b20e0574b2a2025-08-20T03:42:48ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-07-012211910.1186/s12982-025-00845-7Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in TurkeyElif Saraç0Remziye Can1Esra Yildiz2The Ministry of National Defense The Ministry of National EducationAtaturk UniversityAbstract Objective Mental health literacy refers to people’s knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders, their ability to recognize them, and their knowledge of help-seeking decisions. There is a lack of knowledge regarding health literacy in older adults in Turkiye. Aim The aim of current study is to measure the level of mental health literacy of older individuals and to create new grounds about the topic. Methods For this cross-sectional study, 163 cognitively healthy people aged ≥ 65 were included. Demographic characteristics form and “Mental Health Literacy Scale-TR” were used to collect data. Age, marital status, and education were identified as associated with mental health literacy. Results The mean age of participants was 70.71 ± 4.35. 41.7% of them were male and 8.6% of them had Bachelor’s Degree. The mean score of Mental Health Literacy Scale-TR was 12.42 ± 3.68. Conclusion Mental health literacy level of older adults was moderate.The findings underscore the ongoing need for communities to support the development of mental health literacy skills among elderly individuals. Additionally, present study emphasizes the importance of further investigating mental health help-seeking behaviors, and the stigma surrounding mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00845-7Mental healthLiteracyElderly |
| spellingShingle | Elif Saraç Remziye Can Esra Yildiz Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Turkey Discover Public Health Mental health Literacy Elderly |
| title | Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Turkey |
| title_full | Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Turkey |
| title_fullStr | Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Turkey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Turkey |
| title_short | Mental health literacy among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Turkey |
| title_sort | mental health literacy among older adults a cross sectional study in turkey |
| topic | Mental health Literacy Elderly |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00845-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elifsarac mentalhealthliteracyamongolderadultsacrosssectionalstudyinturkey AT remziyecan mentalhealthliteracyamongolderadultsacrosssectionalstudyinturkey AT esrayildiz mentalhealthliteracyamongolderadultsacrosssectionalstudyinturkey |