Gender differences in the association between attitudes toward mental health treatment and mental health outcomes among noninstitutionalized adults with depression

ABSTRACT

This study examined whether the effects of attitudes toward mental health treatment on mental health outcomes are moderated by gender in the U.S. population. We utilized the data (N = 491,773) from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which is an annual U.S. health survey administered through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study subsample consisted of 3,857 noninstitutionalized adults who were diagnosed with a depressive disorder and had healthcare professional visits in the past 12 months. Results showed that depressed adults having very positive attitudes toward mental health treatment reported to experience fewer days of poor mental health than those with less positive attitudes. While both men and women with a very positive attitude reported fewer days of experiencing poor mental health, the advantage of having a very positive attitude is only seen for women, not for men after the covariates are accounted for. The study suggests important social work intervention and policy implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Attitudes toward mental health treatment
• depression
• gender difference
• mental health outcomes