Mental health literacy as a mediator in use of mental health services among older korean adults

Mental health literacy as a mediator in use of mental health services among older korean adults

Existing literature suggests that mental health literacy is positively associated with mental health services utilization. Despite an aging population that faces significant mental health concerns in Korea, the role of mental health literacy on mental health services utilization is not known among o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International psychogeriatrics Vol. 29; no. 2; p. 269
Main Authors: Kim, Young Sun, Rhee, T Greg, Lee, Hee Yun, Park, Byung Hyun, Sharratt, Monica L
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England 01-02-2017
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Literacy
Health Status
Humans
Independent Living
Male
Mental Health
Mental Health Services - utilization
Regression Analysis
Republic of Korea - epidemiology
older adults
Korean
health literacy
service utilization
mental health
mental health literacy
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Summary:Existing literature suggests that mental health literacy is positively associated with mental health services utilization. Despite an aging population that faces significant mental health concerns in Korea, the role of mental health literacy on mental health services utilization is not known among older adults in Korea. This study aimed to (1) identify whether mental health literacy mediates the association between population characteristics and mental health services utilization and (2) identify an optimal path model for mental health services utilization among Korean older adults. Using a cross-sectional survey with a quota sampling strategy, we collected and analyzed responses from 596 community-dwelling individuals ages 65 years and older. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to estimate the effect of mental health literacy as a mediator. When controlling for other relevant covariates in the optimal path model, mental health literacy mediated the relationships between three socio-demographic factors (education, general literacy, and health status) and mental health services utilization. The model fit index shows that the SEM fits very well (CFI = 0.92, NFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.07). Efforts to improve mental health literacy through community-based education programs may need to particularly target Korean older adults with the relevant socio-demographic characteristics to enhance their utilization of appropriate mental health services.
ISSN:1741-203X
DOI:10.1017/S1041610216001721