Predictors of mental health literacy among parents of youth diagnosed with mood disorders.

AGE distribution; DEPRESSION in children; EXPERIENCE; LITERACY; BIPOLAR disorder in children; MENTAL health; PARENTS; QUESTIONNAIRES; RACE; SEX distribution; MULTIPLE regression analysis; SOCIOECONOMIC factors; EDUCATIONAL attainment; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; HEALTH literacy; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; PSYCHOEDUCATION

Research reveals limited knowledge of children's mental health among caregivers. This paper identifies predictors of mental health literacy among parents of children diagnosed with mood disorders that are seeking or already receiving help. Secondary data analysis using multivariate regression was conducted on data from a randomized, controlled efficacy trial with a sample of 165 children. Mental health literacy was higher for parents who were female, white, higher educated and had children who were older, had a bipolar diagnosis or received more services. Lifetime experience with mental health disorders also predicted literacy. Public mental health efforts are needed to raise caregiver mental health literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]