Health literacy needs among unemployed adults: Triangulating interview and scoping review data

Abstract Disadvantaged populations, including unemployed adults, often exhibit low levels of health literacy. Exploring subjectively perceived health literacy needs in these populations can serve as an entry point for participatory intervention development. We aimed to assess health literacy needs of unemployed adults by triangulating qualitative interviews data and a scoping review. Using a parallel approach, we combined results of an interview study with 10 participants of a job-reintegration program in Germany and a scoping review. The interviews, conducted in early 2021, focused on health topics of interest to the participants and their sources of health-related information. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. For the scoping review, we searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and SCOPUS up to January 2021 for studies containing “unemployed” AND “health literacy” in titles/abstracts. Study selection and data extraction were done independently by two researchers. Nutrition and physical activity emerged as core themes during the interviews, with some participants referring to the importance of both for mental health. Doctors and the institution running the job-reintegration program were the sources of health-related information often mentioned. The Corona pandemic was reported to have limited physical activity and affected psycho-social well-being. Five out of 2696 studies were included in the review. Four focused on mental health literacy, the fifth assessed information seeking practices in unemployed adults. The qualitative analysis revealed that health literacy needs of unemployed adults go beyond mental health literacy. As nutrition and physical activity impact mental health, interventions targeting such topics might also improve mental health literacy in unemployed adults. Study findings will be discussed with unemployed persons and social workers in co-production workshops that aim to identify and prioritize health literacy needs for intervention development. Key messages Health literacy programs for unemployed adults should target nutrition and physical activity. Workforce re-integration programs play a pivotal role in improving health literacy of unemployed adults.

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Promotion of Elementary School Students’ Health Literacy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17249560 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (24) ◽

pp. 9560

Author(s):

Elke Knisel ◽

Helge Rupprich ◽

Annika Wunram ◽

Markus Bremer ◽

Christiane Desaive

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Elementary School ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Rank Test ◽

School Students ◽

Related Information ◽

Signed Rank ◽

Health Related ◽

Signed Rank Test

Health literacy is an important outcome of the discussion of school-related health education and health promotion in the 21st century. Although the improvement of health literacy at an early age is increasingly recognized and few interventions show the development of children´s health literacy, still there is little research in this area. The purpose of the study was to examine the enhancement of health literacy among children in a physical activity-based program at elementary school. In total, 137 students aged 6–12 years participated in the program, which included health knowledge transfer in child-appropriate games and exercises. Participants´ health literacy was assessed using the HLS-Child-Q15-DE at the beginning and the end of the program. The instrument measures the access, understanding, appraisal and application of health-related information on a four-point Likert-type scale. As expected, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant increases in self-reported health literacy over time. The results show that the degree of change in health literacy was not associated with gender or age. The results suggest that the physical activity-based program has the potential to improve elementary school children´s health literacy, even though in a single group pilot study.

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Research Trends on Mobile Mental Health Application for General Population: A Scoping Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2459

Author(s):

Won Ju Hwang ◽

Ji Sun Ha ◽

Mi Jeong Kim

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Adult Population ◽

Well Being ◽

Stress Theory ◽

Scoping Reviews ◽

General Adult Population ◽

Health Related

Background: Scoping reviews of the literature on the development and application of mental health apps based on theoretical suggestions are lacking. This study systematically examines studies on the effects and results of mental health mobile apps for the general adult population. Methods: Following PICOs (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design), a general form of scoping review was adopted. From January 2010 to December 2019, we selected the effects of mental health-related apps and intervention programs provided by mobile to the general adult population over the age of 18. Additionally, evaluation of methodological quality was assessed using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) checklist. Results: Fourteen studies were analyzed of 1205 that were identified; duplicate and matching studies were excluded. One was a descriptive study and 13 were experimental, of which randomized control trials (RCTs) accounted for 71.4%. Four of the mobile apps were developed based on cognitive behavior theory, one based on stress theory, and one on ecological instant intervention theory. These apps included breathing training, meditation, and music therapy. Stress, depression, and anxiety decreased using these apps, and some were effective for well-being. Conclusion: With the rapid development of technology related to mental health, many mobile apps are developed, but apps based on theoretical knowledge and well-designed research are lacking. Further research and practices should be conducted to develop, test, and disseminate evidence-based mHealth for mental health promotion. RCT studies are needed to expand the application to mental health services to various populations.

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Counsellor-in-Residence: Evaluation of a Residence-Based Initiative to Promote Student Mental Health

Canadian Journal of Higher Education ◽

10.47678/cjhe.v48i2.187978 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 55-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tiffany Anne Beks ◽

Sharon L Cairns ◽

Serena Smygwaty ◽

Olga A.L. Miranda Osorio ◽

Sheldon J Hill

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

International Students ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Well Being ◽

Domestic Students ◽

Counselling Services ◽

Resilience Scale ◽

Health Programming ◽

Target Male

Many universities have implemented campus-based initiatives addressing students’ mental health with the goal of promoting well-being. One such initiative is the newly developed Counsellor-in-Residence (CIR) program at the University of Calgary, which targets students’ mental health by providing residence-based counselling services and mental health programming. In this process evaluation, students completed three waves of data collection conducted over the academic year. Each wave measured students’ mental health literacy, using the Mental Health Literacy Scale (O’Connor & Casey, 2015), and resiliency, using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-25 (Connor & Davidson, 2003). Males reported lower mental health literacy than females (p < .001), and international students reported lower mental health literacy than domestic students (p < .001). No differences in resilience levels were found between groups. These findings suggest that male and international students experience additional barriers to accessing campus-based mental health services. Implications for residence-based mental health programming that target male and international students are discussed.

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Promotion of Mental Health Literacy in Adolescents: A Scoping Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189500 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9500

Author(s):

Joana Nobre ◽

Ana Paula Oliveira ◽

Francisco Monteiro ◽

Carlos Sequeira ◽

Carme Ferré-Grau

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Classroom Environment ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Stigma Reduction ◽

Face To Face ◽

School Settings ◽

Good Mental Health

In recent years, there has been an important commitment to the development of programs to promote mental health literacy (MHL) among adolescents, due to the prevalence of mental health problems and the low level of MHL that affects this group. The aim of this study was to map the structure and context of programmes/interventions for promoting MHL among adolescents in school settings. A scoping review was conducted following the guidelines of The Joanna Briggs Institute. We searched for studies on programmes/interventions promoting at least one of the components of MHL of adolescents, written in Portuguese, English or Spanish, published from 2013 to 2020, in MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, SciELO, SCOPUS, OpenGrey, RCAAP and in the article reference lists. This review included 29 articles. The majority of programmes/interventions addressed one or more of the four components of MHL, with the knowledge of mental disorders and stigma reduction components being the most covered; were taught by adolescent’s regular teachers; used face to face interventions; had a height variable duration; used non-validated instruments; were implemented in a classroom environment; and showed statistically significant improvements in adolescent’s MHL levels. More research is needed to implement/construct programmes/interventions promoting adolescents’ MHL concerning knowledge on how to obtain and maintain good mental health.

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Mental Health Literacy, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Outcomes in Women Rugby Players

Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal ◽

10.1123/wspaj.2020-0066 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Shakiba Oftadeh-Moghadam ◽

Paul Gorczynski

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Multidisciplinary Teams ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Rugby Players

Within rugby, a plethora of research has focused on male rugby players, with some recent attention being directed to examining their mental health. Such attention has not been evident for their female rugby counterparts. The aims of this study were to ascertain levels of mental health literacy (MHL) and explore demographic differences in United Kingdom semielite rugby players who identified as women, and examine whether MHL is associated with better mental health outcomes and general help-seeking intentions. In total, 208 semielite women rugby players completed an online multisection questionnaire measuring MHL, general help-seeking intentions, distress, and well-being. Overall, most players scored a low rating of well-being; however, those who indicated a previous mental health problem exhibited significantly higher levels of MHL. Players were more likely to display general help-seeking intentions toward an intimate partner or a friend than a health care professional. High levels of distress were reported in 64.4% of players, particularly those who had been previously medically diagnosed with a mental disorder and bisexual rugby players. MHL was significantly, positively correlated with general help-seeking intentions, but not significantly correlated with distress or well-being. This study is the first to examine MHL in women rugby players and suggests that strategies devised by multidisciplinary teams of experts to help promote, engage, and offer tailored mental health support to women rugby players would be beneficial. Further investigations exploring the determinants of, and barriers to, MHL among women rugby players would be worthwhile to better understand and support players throughout their sporting career.

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The Relationship Between Positive Mental Health Literacy and Mental Well-Being Among Adolescents: Implications for School Health Services

The Journal of School Nursing ◽

10.1177/1059840517732125 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 107-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Hanne N. Bjørnsen ◽

Geir A. Espnes ◽

Mary-Elizabeth B. Eilertsen ◽

Regine Ringdal ◽

Unni K. Moksnes

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Education ◽

Health Services ◽

School Health ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Well Being ◽

Mental Health Education ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

The Relationship

Mental health education is a central part of school nurses’ practice. Mental health literacy is an asset for health that educational initiatives can strengthen, and a significant determinant of mental health. This study was intended to examine the relationship between positive mental health literacy (PMeHL) and mental well-being to discuss its implications for school health services’ mental health education. The relationship was assessed using a multiple linear regression model controlling for relevant covariates. Data were derived from a cross-sectional school-based survey including 1,888 adolescents aged 15–21 years (response rate 97.3%). A weak gender difference was found in PMeHL. The regression model accounted for 41% of the variance in adolescents’ mental well-being; PMeHL was a significant explanatory variable of mental well-being. Accordingly, the current study found support for including PMeHL, or knowledge of how to obtain and maintain good mental health, as an integral component of school health services’ mental health education among adolescents.

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Invisible Identity in the Workplace: Intersectional Madness and Processes of Disclosure at Work

Disability Studies Quarterly ◽

10.18061/dsq.v33i1.3424 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Merrick Daniel Pilling

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

High Risk ◽

Well Being ◽

Multiple Identities ◽

Work Lives ◽

Subject Positions ◽

Related Information ◽

Invisible Disabilities ◽

Health Related ◽

Health And Well Being

In this article I draw on recent work regarding disabilities that are not readily apparent to analyze the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and/or trans (LGBQT) mad people in the workplace. Based on interviews with LGBQT people about madness and everyday life, I use an intersectional approach to examine participants’ work lives. I argue that decisions about disclosure of mental health related information are particularly pressing and high risk at work, given the economic stakes and the effects on health and well-being. As is the case for others with invisible disabilities, notions of authenticity shape processes of disclosure and access to accommodations for LGBQT mad people in the workplace. An intersectional analysis shows how madness cannot be considered the only salient aspect of my participants’ subject positions and how multiple identities operate together to shape their experiences. Keywords: madness, invisible disability, LGBQT, intersectionality, workplace, race, sexuality, gender identity

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Stress of COVID-19, Anxiety, Economic Insecurity, and Mental Health Literacy: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.707079 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yangxiu Hu ◽

Baojuan Ye ◽

Jiawen Tan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Mental Health Literacy ◽

Well Being ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Economic Insecurity ◽

Chinese College Students ◽

Negatively Associated

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently a global health threat attributed to negatively affecting the mental health and well-being of people globally. The purpose of the current study is to examine the mediating roles of economic insecurity and mental health literacy in the relationship between stress about COVID-19 and anxiety. Results from the current study using a large sample of Chinese college students (N = 1,334) showed that stress of COVID-19 was positively associated with economic insecurity and anxiety while negatively associated with mental health literacy, which in turn was negatively associated with anxiety. These results elucidate our understanding of the role of mediators in stress about COVID-19 and anxiety. The findings are useful in terms of providing evidence for tailoring interventions and implementing preventative approaches to mitigate anxiety due to stress of COVID-19. Based on the present findings and within the context of COVID-19, the potential utility of promoting MHL to reduce the psychopathological consequences of COVID-19 is discussed.

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Links between Adolescents’ Health Literacy and their Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences ◽

10.33607/bjshs.v3i114.805 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (114) ◽

Author(s):

Renata Rutkauskaitė ◽

Konsta Kuusinen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Information ◽

Body Mass ◽

Information Literacy ◽

Organized Activities ◽

Related Information ◽

Sports Club ◽

Health Related

Background. The aim of the study was to identify links between health literacy, health information literacy and physical activity as well as body mass index in adolescents.Methods. The study was carried out from September till the end of November, 2018. Research participants were 167 14–18-year-old students from Kaunas, Klaipeda and Vilnius (n = 107 females, n = 60 males). Participants were asked to fill in an anonymous online questionnaire, which consisted of basic demographics, physical activity, health information literacy and health literacy. Adolescents’ body mass index was calculated using ISO-BMI calculations. Physical activity was assessed by Petronytė’s physical activity questionnaire. To determine adolescents’ everyday health information literacy, we used self-assessed 10-item screening tool (EHIL-10) and to determine health literacy, we used Newest Vital Sign (NVS) screening test. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0 program for Windows.Results. Health literacy did not have association with body mass index or the level of physical activity. Health literacy scores gave important data of the level of health literacy. The scores indicated that 21.6% of Lithuanian adolescents had adequate level of health literacy. It was found that age correlated positively with health literacy. Self-assessed everyday health information literacy was higher since 85% of the students had medium high or high level of health information literacy. The data revealed that adolescents were not sure where they could find health related information and who they could trust in health-related issues. For males, finding health information and knowing who they could trust in health issues was easier than for females. Health information literacy did not have association with ISO-BMI. Sufficient evaluation of health-related information was higher among normally weighted adolescents. Physically active students had higher health information literacy and participation in sports club activities had positive relation with better health information literacy. Additionally, involvement in organized activities associated with superior understanding of terms and sentences of health information. Evaluation of health information was higher among those who were actively involved in organized physical activities.Conclusions. Health information literacy did not have association with ISO-BMI. Those, who were involved in sports club activities or were more actively involved in organized physical activities had better health information literacy and evaluation of health information. Nevertheless, there was no connection between health literacy and physical activity. Keywords: health literacy, health information literacy, physical activity, body mass index.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Societal Infection Control Measures on Children and Adolescents' Mental Health: A Scoping Review

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.711791 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Jamile Marchi ◽

Nina Johansson ◽

Anna Sarkadi ◽

Georgina Warner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Infection Control ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Measures ◽

Parenting Support ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

The Impact

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is primarily a crisis that affects people's physical health. However, it is well-known from previous epidemics and pandemics that there are other indirect negative impacts on mental health, among others. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore and summarise primary empirical research evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic and societal infection control measures have impacted children and adolescents' mental health.Methods: A literature search was conducted in five scientific databases: PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINHAL, and Social Science Premium Collection. The search string was designed using the Population (0–18 years), Exposure (COVID-19), Outcomes (mental health) framework. Mental health was defined broadly, covering mental well-being to mental disorders and psychiatric conditions.Results: Fifty-nine studies were included in the scoping review. Of these, 44 were cross-sectional and 15 were longitudinal studies. Most studies reported negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child and adolescent mental health outcomes, yet the evidence was mixed. This was also the case for studies investigating societal control measures. Strong resilience, positive emotion regulation, physical activity, parental self-efficacy, family functioning and emotional regulation, and social support were reported as protective factors. On the contrary, emotional reactivity and experiential avoidance, exposure to excessive information, COVID-19 school concerns, presence of COVID-19 cases in the community, parental mental health problems, and high internet, social media and video game use were all identified as potentially harmful factors.Conclusions: Due to the methodological heterogeneity of the studies and geographical variation, it is challenging to draw definitive conclusions about the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. However, the existing body of research gives some insight to how parents, clinicians and policy makers can take action to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and control measures. Interventions to promote physical activity and reduce screen time among children and adolescents are recommended, as well as parenting support programs.

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