The mediating role of myths about schizophrenia in the effect of mental health literacy on community attitudes toward mental illness

Aim: This study was planned to investigate the mediating role of myths about schizophrenia in the effect of mental health literacy on community attitudes toward mental illness. Methods: The population of this study, which was designed in a descriptive-correlational model, consisted of the relatives of patients who were receiving inpatient care in the internal and surgical units of a university hospital. The sampling of unknown population formula was used to calculate the sample size, and the study was completed with the participation of 270 (n=270) patient relatives. Study data were collected between April 2022 and October 2022 by using a Personal Information Form, Myths about Schizophrenia Questionnaire, which was developed within the scope of this study, the Mental Health Literacy Scale, and the Community Attitudes towards Individuals with Mental Problems Scale. Hierarchical regression analysis of PROCESS Model 4 was used to evaluate the mediation effect of the study. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: While myths about schizophrenia did not have a mediating role in the effect of MHL on positive community attitudes toward mental illnesses (goodwill sub-dimension, community mental health ideology sub-dimension) (p>0.05), they were found to mediate the effect of MHL on negative community attitudes (fear/exclusion sub-dimension) (β:0.403; p=0.000). Conclusion: A questionnaire to evaluate myths about schizophrenia was developed and its mediation effect was evaluated for the first time. Myths about schizophrenia caused negative social attitudes. It is recommended to plan nursing interventions to increase social awareness about reducing myth levels and improving positive community attitudes by increasing the level of mental health literacy. Keywords: Nursing, Myth, Mental health literacy, Schizophrenia, Attitude