The Mediator Role of Mental Health Literacy in the Relationship Between Demographic Variables and Health-Promoting Behaviours

Abstract

Background: An understanding of the relationships between mental health literacy and health promotion behaviours is essential for the development of community-based interventions in the prevention of mental disorder. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between mental health literacy and health-promoting behaviours and to assess the contributions of mental health literacy through mediation to demographic characteristic in health-promoting behaviours. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 378 participants by convenience method in public places of Bushehr city from January to March 2016. The data collection tool included demographic variables section, mental health literacy scale, and health-promoting lifestyle profile. Assessment of the potential mediation effect of MHL was assessed using the three criteria. The association of the demographic characteristic with the MHL must be significant, the association of the demographic characteristic with health-promoting behaviours must be significant, and MHL must be significantly associated with the health-promoting behaviours controlling the demographic characteristics. The analysis was done by SPSS software version 20.0. Results: Findings indicated that there is a significant association between the education level (P < 0.001) and history of mental disorder (P = 0.004) with MHL score. There is a significant association between education (P < 0.001), employment status (P = 0.028), marital status (P = 0.013), and history of mental disorder (P = 0.035) with HPLP score. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that the education tended to have both direct and indirect effect in HPLP. Conclusions: MHL is a significant predictor and mediator to all the health-promoting behaviours. MHL is predictor of health-related behaviours, and, it also mediates the effect of the academic education on these behaviours.