Mental Health and Prevention最新文献

{"title":"Co-designing a community engagement toolkit to raise awareness of screening and care for neurodevelopmental delays and disabilities in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka","authors":"Sweta Pal ,&nbsp;Bhavya Malhotra ,&nbsp;Faith D Gonsalves ,&nbsp;Alifiya Mutaher ,&nbsp;Chamika Hansamalee ,&nbsp;Surendra Bajracharya ,&nbsp;Shradha Gadtaula ,&nbsp;Yashodha Rajapaksha ,&nbsp;Shashini Hewavithanagamage ,&nbsp;Vidusha Sameen Thebuwana ,&nbsp;Rasika Haggepola Archchi ,&nbsp;Nethma Abesingha ,&nbsp;Sara Neupane ,&nbsp;Jacinta Fernandes ,&nbsp;Deepika Saini ,&nbsp;Reema Deshpande ,&nbsp;Gunjan Mathur ,&nbsp;Aditya Prakash ,&nbsp;Priyanka Suneja ,&nbsp;Shruti Garg ,&nbsp;Gauri Divan","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200431","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200431","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>South Asia has the highest prevalence of neurodevelopmental delays and disabilities (NDDs) globally, with 95% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder living in this region. Early detection of NDDs can bridge care gaps and improve family understanding and adjustment, maximising a child’s developmental potential. However, low awareness, stigma, and structural barriers delay detection, even where interventions might be accessible. There is also limited research documenting caregivers' perspectives on improving their caregiving journeys.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to develop a ‘Community Engagement Toolkit’ using participatory research with a range of stakeholders to raise community awareness of NDDs, improve timely access to evidence-based information for families, and enhance caregivers' engagement with a community-based detection and care pathway in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 185 participants, including caregivers (<em>n</em>=94), non-specialist health workers (<em>n</em>=68), specialist service providers (<em>n</em>=14), and autistic adults (<em>n</em>=9), participated in interviews and co-design workshops. Community Advisory Boards in three countries guided the toolkit’s development.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings revealed key time points in typical caregiving journeys where access to practical information is crucial. Barriers to early detection included a lack of awareness of developmental milestones, unclear care pathways, and misinformation. Participants emphasised the need for specific, practical guidance for caregivers throughout their journey to track early development, seek help, and enrol in interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Community Engagement Toolkit comprises nine tools, including posters, videos, and leaflets, to support caregivers, distributed by trained Non-Specialist Health Workers to improve NDD detection and care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 200431"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between emotion regulation and mental health in adolescents: Self-compassion as a moderator","authors":"An Nguyen ,&nbsp;Lucinda Grummitt ,&nbsp;Emma L. Barrett ,&nbsp;Sasha Bailey ,&nbsp;Lauren A. Gardner ,&nbsp;Katrina E. Champion ,&nbsp;Jillian Halladay ,&nbsp;Frances A. Maratos ,&nbsp;Emily Hunter ,&nbsp;Kirsty Rowlinson ,&nbsp;Cath Chapman ,&nbsp;Nicola C. Newton ,&nbsp;Louise Birrell","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200430","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200430","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Emotion regulation and self-compassion play important roles in shaping mental health and wellbeing. However, no studies to date have explored how these constructs may interact in the general adolescent population. This study examined the associations between different dimensions of self-compassion (compassionate self-responding and uncompassionate self-responding), emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal and expression suppression) and mental health (depression and anxiety symptoms) among adolescents. It also examined whether self-compassion components moderate the relationships between emotion regulation and mental health symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Data used in this study is drawn from a clustered RCT of a mental health prevention program conducted across nine Australian high schools. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to test whether self-compassion and emotion regulation strategies are significant predictors of anxiety and depression scores. Interactions between emotion regulation and self-compassion on anxiety and depression scores were also examined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>752 Australian adolescents were included in the study (M_age = 13.83, SD = 0.78). Cognitive reappraisal and compassionate self-responding negatively predicted anxiety and depression scores, while expressive suppression and uncompassionate self-responding positively predicted these outcomes. Compassionate self-responding and uncompassionate self-responding differentially moderated the relationships between emotion regulation strategies and anxiety and depression scores.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The current study is the first to show the key role of self-compassion within adolescents’ emotion regulation framework. Future research should examine self-compassion and emotion regulation together as potential intervention targets for adolescents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 200430"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144190152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations between childhood trauma and personality disorder traits: A cross-sectional study in the general population","authors":"Roberto Pedone ,&nbsp;Luca Pistone ,&nbsp;Eduardo Maria Schettino ,&nbsp;Giovanni Florio","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200429","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200429","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Childhood trauma (CT)<img>including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect<img>is a well-documented risk factor for the development of personality pathology. While prior research has established a general association between CT and personality disorders (PDs), the differential impact of specific trauma subtypes on individual PD traits remains insufficiently explored, particularly in non-clinical populations.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examined whether higher CT levels are associated with increased PD trait severity and whether distinct CT subtypes predict specific PD traits, independent of psychological distress and demographic factors.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A community sample of 2,077 Italian adults (aged 18–65) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Assessment of DSM-IV Personality Disorders (ADP-IV), and the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R). Correlational and multiple regression analyses controlled for age, gender, education, marital status, and psychological distress.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Higher levels of CT were significantly associated with increased overall severity of personality pathology, independent of psychological distress. Emotional abuse emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor, particularly in relation to borderline, paranoid, avoidant, and depressive traits. Physical neglect showed unique associations with antisocial and dependent traits. Other trauma subtypes demonstrated weaker or less consistent relationships with PD traits.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Emotional abuse appears to have a pervasive impact on maladaptive personality traits. These findings support trauma-informed assessment approaches and highlight the importance of incorporating developmental history into the conceptualization and treatment of personality pathology. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify causal mechanisms and inform prevention strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 200429"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can an emotion-focused intervention improve emotion socialization in secondary school teachers? A group randomized control trial","authors":"Christiane E. Kehoe,&nbsp;Clair Bennett,&nbsp;Ann Harley,&nbsp;Alessandra Radovini,&nbsp;Sophie S. Havighurst","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Teachers vary in how they socialize emotions in day-to-day teaching, including during delivery of social emotional learning content. Teachers’ difficulties in managing their own emotions can impact negatively on teaching, teacher wellbeing, teacher-student relationships, as well as teachers’ capacity to be supportive with adolescents. Improving emotion socialization skills in teachers has shown benefits for primary teachers, students and the broader school community, however, there have been limited evaluations of intervention programs that aim to improve teacher emotion socialization in the secondary school setting, a critical time for students’ emotion regulation development.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This group randomized controlled study examined outcomes, feasibility and acceptability of the <em>Tuning in to Students</em> program <em>(TIS),</em> a variant of the evidence-based <em>Tuning in to Teens®</em> parenting program, designed to enhance teacher emotional competence and supportive responses to students’ emotions.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Four secondary schools (matched pairs) were randomized to intervention or 12-month waitlist-control conditions. Teachers (<em>N =</em> 117; 68 intervention) self-reported on program acceptability post-intervention, and on wellbeing, emotional competence, and emotion socialization responses pre-intervention and 12-months later.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participating teachers reported high acceptability and greater improvements in teacher emotional competence and reductions in emotion dismissing responses, when compared with control teachers who reported no change at 12-month follow-up.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings provide initial support for <em>TIS</em> as an acceptable teacher intervention for improving teacher emotion socialization, supporting its use as part of a whole school multisystemic intervention of <em>Tuning in to Teens.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 200410"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Let's talk about mental health! – Pilot study on school-based mental health literacy interventions for adolescents in Germany","authors":"Katharina Szota ,&nbsp;Hanna Christiansen ,&nbsp;Nele Dippel ,&nbsp;Julia Asbrand","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Despite the high prevalence of mental disorders in childhood and adolescence, only a subset of affected youths seeks and receives professional help. Mental health literacy (MHL) is an important facilitator of mental health service utilization. Besides knowledge and competencies, MHL encompasses decreased stigma and fears of stigmatization. We conducted so-called <em>Living Library</em> interventions at schools with adolescents in Germany, enabling direct social contact with experienced students of psychology. The present pilot study aims to evaluate these interventions with regard to their effects on adolescents’ MHL and reduced barriers to utilize mental health care.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The interventions were part of the university education in Psychology. Students prepared to transfer knowledge and discuss prevalent prejudices about common mental disorders using interactive formats. A within-subjects survey was conducted. Adolescents’ ratings on their MHL and on the Adolescent Barriers to Accessing Psychotherapy (ABAP) Questionnaire were assessed before and after the interventions. A total of <em>N</em> = 133 participants (<em>M</em> = 14.70 years, 48.1 % male) were included in the analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Adolescents reported increased MHL (<em>d</em> = 0.62) and reduced Help-seeking stigma (<em>d</em> = -0.23) after the interventions compared to before. No changes appeared on the ABAP subscales Fear of public stigma, Problem denial and Fear of psychotherapy setting.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our pilot study indicates that our interventions increase adolescents’ MHL and reduce reservations towards seeking professional help. Potential adaptations of the interventions, for example the involvement of school staff and caregivers, might increase their effects on additional barriers towards mental health care utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"38 ","pages":"Article 200416"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143829957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of digital MBCT-PD in preventing postpartum depression and enhancing work motivation: A study protocol","authors":"Neda Ansaari ,&nbsp;Sreenath Kuruveettissery ,&nbsp;Aruna Muralidhar","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant challenge for women transitioning back to work. While preventive measures are essential, the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in this context remains underexplored. This study will assess the efficacy of a digital MBCT program (MBCT-PD) in preventing PPD, enhancing well-being, and motivating work resumption after childbirth.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with repeated measures will evaluate MBCT-PD, a digitally delivered intervention designed to promote mindfulness and emotional resilience. Eighty consenting pregnant women aged 18+, between 16 and 32 weeks gestation, residing in urban India will be recruited and randomized to either the MBCT-PD group or an enhanced treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group, which includes additional prenatal wellness resources. The intervention will span eight weeks, with assessments at baseline, post-intervention (T1), and six weeks postpartum (T2).</div><div>Primary outcomes are depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), well-being (Pregnancy Experience Scale-Brief), and work motivation (Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale). Secondary outcome is mindfulness level (Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form). Descriptive statistics, repeated measures ANOVA, and regression analyses will determine the effect of MBCT-PD on these outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Expected Results</h3><div>We anticipate that the MBCT-PD group will show reduced PPD symptoms, improved well-being, and greater motivation to resume work than the control group, consistent with previous findings on mindfulness-based interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings from this study are expected to support the efficacy of MBCT-PD as a cost-effective, scalable intervention for enhancing postpartum mental health and work reintegration, with potential applications in maternal mental health practices and policies worldwide.</div></div><div><h3>Trial Registration</h3><div>Clinical Trial Registry of India. CTRI/2024/03/064,831</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 200392"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143142301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the association of depression and post traumatic stress disorder among humanitarian aid workers along the Thai-Myanmar border","authors":"Naw Lar Paw ,&nbsp;Kyaw Min Htike ,&nbsp;Rajitra Nawawonganun ,&nbsp;Roshan Kumar Mahato","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Humanitarian aid workers (HAWs) are exposed to high levels of stress, resulting in substantial risks for mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and PTSD among HAWs along the Thai-Myanmar border and identify factors influencing these conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional study surveyed 424 HAWs from four Thai-Myanmar border provinces from October 2023 to September 2024, using stratified random sampling. Logistic regression was applied to analyze factors associated with depression and PTSD.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Depression was identified in 19.8 % (95 % Confidence Interval: 16.28–23.89) of participants and PTSD symptoms were observed in 26.4 % (95 % CI: 22.43–30.83) of HAWs. Depression was associated with homeownership, dysfunctional family relationships, and roles in job sectors while PTSD was linked to poor sleep, moderate family support, secondary traumatic stress and poor quality of life. High burnout, stress and depression were also significant risk factors.Workers with a lower quality of life were 3.45 times (Adjusted Odds Ratio 3.45, 95 % CI: 1.61–7.40) more likely to experience depression and 2.27 times (AOR 2.27, 95 % CI: 1.25–4.13) more likely to experience PTSD.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Nearly 20 % of humanitarian aid workers experienced depression, and over 25 % reported PTSD. Depression was linked to homeownership, family relationships and job sectors. PTSD was associated with poor sleep, moderate family support, secondary traumatic stress and low quality of life. High burnout, stress and depression were significant risks. Improving quality of life and providing mental health support are essential interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 200409"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143420226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers to suicide prevention in primary care: A qualitative study among general practitioners in Germany","authors":"Lea Mayer ,&nbsp;Anne Barzel ,&nbsp;Vera Clemens ,&nbsp;Jörg Fegert ,&nbsp;Katharina Grau ,&nbsp;Harald Gündel ,&nbsp;Maria Haun ,&nbsp;Natalie Lamp ,&nbsp;Miriam Rassenhofer ,&nbsp;Eva Rothermund ,&nbsp;Nathalie Oexle","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2024.200381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Suicide is a global public health issue and general practitioners (GPs) are important frontline responders to ensure treatment for persons experiencing suicidality. Although valid assessment tools and guidelines for managing suicidality in primary care are available, previous studies suggest that these are not yet sufficiently adhered to. Knowledge about the challenges experienced by GPs in identifying and managing suicidality among their patients is needed for the development of interventions to improve suicide prevention within primary care.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>The current study seeks to examine the challenges GPs in Germany encounter when managing suicidality among patients in primary care.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted qualitative online interviews with 15 GPs practising in Germany. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We included a diverse sample of mainly early-practise GPs (mean age: 42 years; w = 9, m = 6). GPs in our study reported 1) difficulties in identifying suicidality, 2) uncertainty and insufficient knowledge, 3) responsibility and discomfort and 4) challenges due to the health care system.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings suggest that GPs in Germany would benefit from specialised trainings to increase their knowledge and reduce uncertainties in handling suicidality among their patients. Reported challenges could be an important focus of successful suicide prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 200381"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143141879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The dual continua in youth mental health policy and practice: Screening and intervention for low mental wellbeing in youth to achieve targeted prevention","authors":"Lachlan Kent ,&nbsp;Maja Havrilova ,&nbsp;Suzanne Dick ,&nbsp;Stephen Carbone","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The mental health of young people in Australia and other nations has declined dramatically over the last decade and a half. While an increase in youth mental healthcare services is needed to meet rising demand, on its own, this is unlikely to reverse the concerning trend. A greater focus on prevention is needed.</div></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><div>This article aims to propose an innovative, theoretically-grounded approach to prevention that complements more common population-based (i.e., changing risk and protective factors) and targeted (i.e., supporting individuals with subthreshold symptoms of mental illness) approaches. Aligned with the dual-continua model of mental health (i.e., where mental well-being and ill-health are distinct dimensions of overall mental health), this third approach focuses on addressing low levels of mental wellbeing, which is both a significant predictor of future mental ill-health and a distressing and disabling state that requires intervention in its own right.</div></div><div><h3>Recommendations</h3><div>Large-scale screening for low mental wellbeing, using psychometrically sound tools, could be conducted online and through schools, higher education, and primary care services. Those with low mental wellbeing could be linked to community services offering evidence-based interventions. This approach is likely to carry less stigma and may be easier to achieve than targeting those with subthreshold symptoms through clinical services.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The dire state of youth mental health is an urgent call-to-action to adopt novel approaches to address this crisis. We need to make better use of the available evidence and tools at-hand to strengthen our focus on low mental wellbeing, not just mental ill-health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 200403"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143142160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parental understanding of mental health in young children: The development and initial validation of the parental child mental health literacy questionnaire","authors":"Rachel Maddox ,&nbsp;Katherine Berry ,&nbsp;Ming Wai Wan","doi":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mhp.2025.200393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aims</h3><div>Parental understanding of mental health difficulties in young children is crucial for early intervention and support, yet child mental health is often misconceived and stigmatized. <em>The Parental Child Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire</em> (PCMHLQ) was developed to measure parents’ literacy of child mental health and piloted in a general community sample of parents in the UK.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects and methods</h3><div>The measure was developed in a three-stage process and piloted in 211 parents of children aged 4 – 11 years. Factor structure, convergent validity, and construct validity were assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The final 23-item version produced a five-factor model corresponding to (1) beliefs, (2) fear of stigma or shame, (3) help-seeking confidence, (4) recognition, and (5) knowledge related to young children's mental health. Four factors had acceptable to high internal reliability. Total PCMHLQ was associated with adult mental health literacy and physical health literacy scores. PCMHLQ scores were lower for parents with a child with mental health difficulties, parents with current mental health difficulties, fathers, and low-income parents. Non-White ethnic minority parents held more negative child mental health beliefs, but did not differ in other scales, and parents who had a history of mental health service access had higher recognition but lower help-seeking confidence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This paper describes the first integrated measure of parental literacy in young children's mental health. Preliminary evidence suggests that the 23-item PCMHLQ has the potential to identify parents with low understanding and to inform tailored community-based interventions and public health initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55864,"journal":{"name":"Mental Health and Prevention","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 200393"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143142299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}