Date of Conferral

3-13-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Benita Stiles-Smith

Abstract

Mental health literacy (MHL) improves the recognition and treatment of mental disorders. The completion of a bachelor’s degree has been correlated with higher levels of MHL, and higher levels of MHL are reported to improve mental health status (MHS). While educational attainment has a significant positive relationship with MHL, the strength and significance of education in predicting MHL level remains unclear. A health literacy conceptualization and self-efficacy theory underpinned further examination of these variables in this study. A survey was administered to a sample of 105 university graduates in Georgia enrolled in one of five bachelor’s degree disciplines: education, humanities, social science, natural science, formal science, or applied science. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance was conducted from the results of two surveys, the Mental Health Literacy Survey and the Mental Health Screening Form – III, to determine the statistical significance of the relationship between the participant’s bachelor’s degree discipline, MHL level, and the individual’s MHS. The results failed to show that increases in MHL for college graduates were related to curricula. It was, however, determined that increased MHL levels correlated with fewer problems with mental health. These results have implications for supporting the use of MHL-improving experiences in education as one avenue of prevention of the development of mental disorders. Increased MHL in the public via educational institutions may bring about social change by aiding individuals in the identification of mental disorder symptoms, help-seeking, and treatment adherence, and by helping reduce stigma about mental health.

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