Turkish validity and reliability of the universal mental health literacy scale for adolescents (10-14 years): A methodological study

Abstract

RationaleMental health literacy enables adolescents to acquire information that will accompany them in their future lives and to define their attitudes and behaviors.Aims and ObjectivesThis study evaluated the Turkish validity and reliability of the Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents (10-14 years).MethodsThis is a methodological, correlational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. The study was conducted with 223 adolescents. Data were collected by 'Information Form' and 'Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents.' Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Pearson Correlation analysis were used to assess the validity and reliability of the UMHL-A.ResultsItem Content Validity Index (I-CVI) scores ranged from 0.94 to 0.96, while the Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI) was 0.95. For 'Help-seeking and Stigma dimensions' chi 2/df = 3.347, NFI = 0.804, IFI = 0.854, TLI = 0.778, CFI = 0.849, RMSEA = 0.103. For 'Knowledge of Mental Health and Knowledge of Mental Illnesses dimensions' chi 2/df = 1.959, NFI = 0.731, IFI = 0.847, TLI = 0.774, CFI = 0.837, RMSEA = 0.066. The internal consistency and time stability were affirmed by a Hotelling T-square value of 15.241 and an F-test result of 27.793.ConclusionsThis study reveals that the Turkish validity and reliability of the Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents is a valid and reliable tool for assessing mental health literacy among adolescents. The UMHL-A scale is a valid tool to evaluate critical aspects of mental health literacy in adolescent populations and can be used in both research and clinical practice in mental health education and intervention. It is recommended that the Turkish version of the Universal Mental Health Literacy Scale should be used to determine resilience in adolescents.