Knowledge of and Attitudes Towards Behavioral Health Services Among Older Youth in the Foster Care System

Overview

Journal Child Adolesc Social Work J

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2014 Aug 1

PMID 25076807

Citations 3

Authors

Michelle R Munson

Sarah Carter Narendorf

J Curtis McMillen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study examined knowledge of and attitudes toward services among 268 17-year olds with psychiatric diagnoses preparing to exit foster care. A structured interview assessed knowledge of services with vignette scenarios and attitudes with a standardized scale. Descriptive statistics described the extent of knowledge and attitudes among this population and regression analyses examined predictors of these dimensions of literacy. Most youth suggested a help source, but responses often lacked specificity. Gender and depression were the strongest predictors of knowledge and attitudes, respectively. Knowing which aspects of literacy are low, and for whom, can inform education efforts to improve access to care in adulthood.

Citing Articles

Intervention development to improve foster youth mental health by targeting coping self-efficacy and help-seeking.

Blakeslee J, Kothari B, Miller R Child Youth Serv Rev. 2023; 144.

PMID: 36712385 PMC: 9879089. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106753.

Assessing trustworthiness: Marginalized youth and the central relational paradox in treatment.

Sapiro B Child Youth Serv Rev. 2020; 116.

PMID: 32684658 PMC: 7367082. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105178.

Intergenerational pathways leading to foster care placement of foster care alumni's children.

Jackson Foster L, Beadnell B, Pecora P Child Fam Soc Work. 2015; 20(1):72-82.

PMID: 25729315 PMC: 4340584. DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12057.

References

McMillen J, Zima B, Scott Jr L, Auslander W, Munson M, Ollie M . Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among older youths in the foster care system. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004; 44(1):88-95. DOI: 10.1097/01.chi.0000145806.24274.d2. View

McMillen J, Scott L, Zima B, Ollie M, Munson M, Spitznagel E . Use of mental health services among older youths in foster care. Psychiatr Serv. 2004; 55(7):811-7. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.55.7.811. View

Wang P, Berglund P, Olfson M, Pincus H, Wells K, Kessler R . Failure and delay in initial treatment contact after first onset of mental disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005; 62(6):603-13. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.603. View

Anda R, Whitfield C, Felitti V, Chapman D, Edwards V, Dube S . Adverse childhood experiences, alcoholic parents, and later risk of alcoholism and depression. Psychiatr Serv. 2002; 53(8):1001-9. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.53.8.1001. View

Teplin L, Abram K, McClelland G, Dulcan M, Mericle A . Psychiatric disorders in youth in juvenile detention. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002; 59(12):1133-43. PMC: 2861992. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.59.12.1133. View

Lauber C, Ajdacic-Gross V, Fritschi N, Stulz N, Rossler W . Mental health literacy in an educational elite -- an online survey among university students. BMC Public Health. 2005; 5:44. PMC: 1156910. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-5-44. View

Roeloffs C, Sherbourne C, Unutzer J, Fink A, Tang L, Wells K . Stigma and depression among primary care patients. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2003; 25(5):311-5. DOI: 10.1016/s0163-8343(03)00066-5. View

Chandra A, Minkovitz C . Stigma starts early: gender differences in teen willingness to use mental health services. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 38(6):754.e1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.08.011. View

Horwitz S, Hoagwood K, Stiffman A, Summerfeld T, Weisz J, Costello E . Reliability of the services assessment for children and adolescents. Psychiatr Serv. 2001; 52(8):1088-94. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.52.8.1088. View

10.

Rickwood D, Deane F, Wilson C . When and how do young people seek professional help for mental health problems?. Med J Aust. 2007; 187(S7):S35-9. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01334.x. View

11.

Lee B, Munson M, Ware N, Ollie M, Scott Jr L, McMillen J . Experiences of and attitudes toward mental health services among older youths in foster care. Psychiatr Serv. 2006; 57(4):487-92. DOI: 10.1176/ps.2006.57.4.487. View

12.

McMillen J, Raghavan R . Pediatric to adult mental health service use of young people leaving the foster care system. J Adolesc Health. 2008; 44(1):7-13. PMC: 2633876. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.04.015. View

13.

Stiffman A, Horwitz S, Hoagwood K, Compton 3rd W, Cottler L, Bean D . The Service Assessment for Children and Adolescents (SACA): adult and child reports. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2000; 39(8):1032-9. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-200008000-00019. View

14.

Cotton S, Wright A, Harris M, Jorm A, McGorry P . Influence of gender on mental health literacy in young Australians. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2006; 40(9):790-6. DOI: 10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01885.x. View

15.

Munson M, Floersch J, Townsend L . Attitudes Toward Mental Health Services and Illness Perceptions Among Adolescents with Mood Disorders. Child Adolesc Social Work J. 2009; 26(5):447-466. PMC: 2761688. DOI: 10.1007/s10560-009-0174-0. View

16.

FISCHER E, Turner J . Orientations to seeking professional help: development and research utility of an attitude scale. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1970; 35(1):79-90. DOI: 10.1037/h0029636. View

17.

Jorm A . Mental health literacy. Public knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders. Br J Psychiatry. 2000; 177:396-401. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.177.5.396. View

18.

Sawyer S, Aroni R . Self-management in adolescents with chronic illness. What does it mean and how can it be achieved?. Med J Aust. 2005; 183(8):405-9. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb07103.x. View

19.

Scott J, Pope M . Nonadherence with mood stabilizers: prevalence and predictors. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002; 63(5):384-90. DOI: 10.4088/jcp.v63n0502. View

20.

Chapman D, Whitfield C, Felitti V, Dube S, Edwards V, Anda R . Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of depressive disorders in adulthood. J Affect Disord. 2004; 82(2):217-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2003.12.013. View