Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general population
IntroductionKnowledge about the causes of mental illness is a crucial component of mental health literacy. Poor understanding of the etiology of mental illness can lead to stigmatizing behaviors and hinder access to appropriate help. The current cross-sectional study examined the general population’...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1612820/full |
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| author | Yoke Boon Tan Eng Hong Tay Shazana Shahwan Savita Gunasekaran Benedict Wei Zhi Lim Bernard Chin Wee Tan Wei Jie Ong Saleha Shafie Edimansyah Abdin Porsche Poh Georg Schomerus Siow Ann Chong Mythily Subramaniam Mythily Subramaniam |
| author_facet | Yoke Boon Tan Eng Hong Tay Shazana Shahwan Savita Gunasekaran Benedict Wei Zhi Lim Bernard Chin Wee Tan Wei Jie Ong Saleha Shafie Edimansyah Abdin Porsche Poh Georg Schomerus Siow Ann Chong Mythily Subramaniam Mythily Subramaniam |
| author_sort | Yoke Boon Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionKnowledge about the causes of mental illness is a crucial component of mental health literacy. Poor understanding of the etiology of mental illness can lead to stigmatizing behaviors and hinder access to appropriate help. The current cross-sectional study examined the general population’s causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses and explored the factor structure of the revised causal beliefs scale.MethodsFour thousand one hundred ninety-five respondents were randomly assigned a vignette and were asked questions on their recognition of the mental illness depicted, causal beliefs, and prior experience related to the mental illness (similar problems, had a mental health-related job or family and friends with similar problems). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the factor structure of the causal beliefs scale. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine its predictors.ResultsFactor analyses revealed a four-factor structure of causal beliefs: physical, psychosocial, personality, and biogenetic. Causal beliefs differed across the vignettes. Compared to schizophrenia, biogenetic beliefs were less likely to be endorsed for all mental illnesses except dementia, while personality beliefs were more likely to be endorsed for depression with suicidality. Compared to respondents who did not recognize the mental illness, those with correct recognition were more likely to endorse biogenetic and psychosocial beliefs, and less likely to endorse physical and personality beliefs.DiscussionFactor structure of the original causal beliefs scale was found to be valid in the Singapore population. Individuals who correctly recognized the mental illness appeared to comprehend its etiology well. However, some misconceptions about the etiology of mental illness persist, particularly with regards to relating obsessive-compulsive disorder to physical factors (e.g., virus) and depression with suicidality to personality flaws. As future awareness campaigns continue to address the gaps in literacy levels, careful promotion of certain causal beliefs is crucial to avoid conveying unintended messages. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b51440cb0185485c8e0e704c4a0ef4d4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b51440cb0185485c8e0e704c4a0ef4d42025-08-20T03:28:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16128201612820Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general populationYoke Boon Tan0Eng Hong Tay1Shazana Shahwan2Savita Gunasekaran3Benedict Wei Zhi Lim4Bernard Chin Wee Tan5Wei Jie Ong6Saleha Shafie7Edimansyah Abdin8Porsche Poh9Georg Schomerus10Siow Ann Chong11Mythily Subramaniam12Mythily Subramaniam13Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeSilver Ribbon, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, GermanyResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeResearch Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore, SingaporeSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeIntroductionKnowledge about the causes of mental illness is a crucial component of mental health literacy. Poor understanding of the etiology of mental illness can lead to stigmatizing behaviors and hinder access to appropriate help. The current cross-sectional study examined the general population’s causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses and explored the factor structure of the revised causal beliefs scale.MethodsFour thousand one hundred ninety-five respondents were randomly assigned a vignette and were asked questions on their recognition of the mental illness depicted, causal beliefs, and prior experience related to the mental illness (similar problems, had a mental health-related job or family and friends with similar problems). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the factor structure of the causal beliefs scale. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine its predictors.ResultsFactor analyses revealed a four-factor structure of causal beliefs: physical, psychosocial, personality, and biogenetic. Causal beliefs differed across the vignettes. Compared to schizophrenia, biogenetic beliefs were less likely to be endorsed for all mental illnesses except dementia, while personality beliefs were more likely to be endorsed for depression with suicidality. Compared to respondents who did not recognize the mental illness, those with correct recognition were more likely to endorse biogenetic and psychosocial beliefs, and less likely to endorse physical and personality beliefs.DiscussionFactor structure of the original causal beliefs scale was found to be valid in the Singapore population. Individuals who correctly recognized the mental illness appeared to comprehend its etiology well. However, some misconceptions about the etiology of mental illness persist, particularly with regards to relating obsessive-compulsive disorder to physical factors (e.g., virus) and depression with suicidality to personality flaws. As future awareness campaigns continue to address the gaps in literacy levels, careful promotion of certain causal beliefs is crucial to avoid conveying unintended messages.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1612820/fullcausal beliefsfactor structuregeneral populationmental health literacymental illness |
| spellingShingle | Yoke Boon Tan Eng Hong Tay Shazana Shahwan Savita Gunasekaran Benedict Wei Zhi Lim Bernard Chin Wee Tan Wei Jie Ong Saleha Shafie Edimansyah Abdin Porsche Poh Georg Schomerus Siow Ann Chong Mythily Subramaniam Mythily Subramaniam Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general population Frontiers in Public Health causal beliefs factor structure general population mental health literacy mental illness |
| title | Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general population |
| title_full | Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general population |
| title_fullStr | Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general population |
| title_short | Factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the Singapore general population |
| title_sort | factor structure and predictors of causal beliefs about seven mental illnesses among the singapore general population |
| topic | causal beliefs factor structure general population mental health literacy mental illness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1612820/full |
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