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Beliefs about mental health problems and help-seeking behavior in Dutch young adults

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Abstract

Background

Mental health problems in young adults are frequent and impairing, but are often left untreated. This study among young adults with self-perceived mental health problems examines beliefs about mental health problems (i.e. their cause, consequences, timeline, and controllability) and help-seeking behaviour.

Method

A cross-sectional population survey (n = 2,258) in the south-west Netherlands. Participants were included who reported having mental health problems during the past year (n = 830). Beliefs about cause, consequences, timeline, and controllability of self-perceived mental health problems were assessed with the Illness Perception Questionnaire. Internalizing and externalizing psychopathology was assessed with the Adult Self-Report.

Results

A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicates that independent of sex, age, and severity of psychopathology, higher levels on the intra-psychic causes scale (OR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.48–2.58), the consequences scale (OR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.40–2.33), and the treatment control scale (OR = 1.97, 95%CI = 1.60–2.41) are associated with an increased likelihood of mental health service use, while higher levels of personal control (OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.62–0.93) are associated with a decreased likelihood.

Conclusions

Beliefs that may encourage young adults with mental health problems to seek professional help include the beliefs that mental health problems have adverse consequences and that treatment can help. Since these beliefs are related to young adults’ knowledge of mental health problems, help-seeking behavior may be encouraged by educating young adults about mental health problems and the effective mental health treatments which are available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Kathleen Vanheusden PhD, Jan van der Ende MS & Frank C. Verhulst MD, PhD

  2. Dept. of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Kathleen Vanheusden PhD, Frank J. van Lenthe PhD & Johan P. Mackenbach MD, PhD

  3. Dr. Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Jan van der Ende MS

  4. Dept. of Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Cornelis L. Mulder MD, PhD

  5. Mental Health Group Europoort, Barendrecht, The Netherlands

    Cornelis L. Mulder MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Kathleen Vanheusden PhD
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  2. Jan van der Ende MS
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  3. Cornelis L. Mulder MD, PhD
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  4. Frank J. van Lenthe PhD
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  5. Frank C. Verhulst MD, PhD
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  6. Johan P. Mackenbach MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Jan van der Ende MS.

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Vanheusden, K., van der Ende, J., Mulder, C.L. et al. Beliefs about mental health problems and help-seeking behavior in Dutch young adults. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 44, 239–246 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0428-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0428-8

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