Assessing mental health literacy among Danish adolescents - development and validation of a multifaceted assessment tool (the Danish MeHLA questionnaire). (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zenas, Ditte; Nielsen, Marie G.; Fonager, Kirsten; Petersen, Kirsten S.; Szulevicz, Thomas; Overgaard, Charlotte
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 293(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Mental health literacy -- Questionnaire -- Psychometrics -- Reliability -- Validity -- Mental health -- Adolescent; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Development and validation of a tool assessing mental health literacy. User involvement as part of development process. Confirmatory factor analysis appeared acceptable-good in the goodness of fit index. An easily administrated tool for mental health promotion and early intervention. Abstract: It is recognized that mental health literacy is vital in both the prevention of mental health problems and in mental health promotion and empowerment of adolescents. In spite of this, only a limited number of tools assessing mental health literacy among adolescents have been developed and most of these have not been adequately tested. In this study, a questionnaire assessing mental health literacy was developed and tested using a three-step approach: 1) item generation in which the principles of public patient involvement were essential, 2) item testing and 3) exploration of psychometric properties. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was determined through Cronbach's alpha and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in order to determine the construct validity of the questionnaire. The results demonstrated partly skewed data, good internal consistency, good Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and acceptable results in the goodness of fit index. The initial results suggest that the questionnaire developed and validated in this study is valuable in assessing mental health literacy and could provide useful, essential information on the topic. It thus appears to be a promising tool in the promotion and improvement of mental health and early intervention of mental health problems among adolescents.