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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2016

Young Sun Kim ,
T. Greg Rhee ,
Hee Yun Lee ,
Byung Hyun Park  and
Monica L. Sharratt
Young Sun Kim*
Affiliation:
Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
T. Greg Rhee
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
Hee Yun Lee
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
Byung Hyun Park
Affiliation:
Department of Social Welfare, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
Monica L. Sharratt
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA
*
Correspondence should be address to: Young Sun Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-Daero, Giheung-Gu, Yongin-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 446-701, South Korea. Phone: 82-31-201-3719. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background:

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.

Methods:

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.

Results:

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).

Conclusions:

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.

Keywords

mental health literacymental healthservice utilizationKoreanolder adultshealth literacy
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , February 2017 , pp. 269 - 279
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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