The Association between Caregivers’ Mental Health Literacy Levels and the Quality of Life of Psychiatric Patients
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Abstract
Objective: In Thailand, mental health literacy has been emphasized in national policy to improve recognition, help-seeking behavior, and treatment adherence. However, evidence regarding mental health literacy among caregivers of psychiatric patients remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess mental health literacy among caregivers of psychiatric patients, identify associated factors, and examine its association with patients’ quality of life.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the psychiatric outpatient department of Phramongkutklao Hospital between January and June 2025. Thirty patient–caregiver dyads were enrolled. Eligible patients were adults aged 18 - 60 years receiving continuous psychiatric treatment for at least six months, and caregivers had provided care for at least six months. Data were collected using the Thai Mental Health Literacy Scale, the WHOQOL-BREF Thai version, the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index and medical records. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results: Most caregivers demonstrated a high level of mental health literacy (73.3%). Higher caregiver mental health literacy was significantly associated with caring for patients diagnosed with depression (aOR = 15.84; 95% CI = 1.17 - 214.97; p = 0.038) and with the presence of hallucinations (aOR = 24.82; 95% CI = 1.12 - 551.65; p = 0.042). Most patients reported a moderate level of quality of life (66.7%). In multivariate analysis, the presence of multiple caregivers was the only independent factor associated with better quality of life (aOR = 21.13; 95% CI = 1.44 - 310.94; p = 0.026) No significant association was found between caregiver mental health literacy and patients’ quality of life.
Conclusion: Caregiver mental health literacy was associated with patients’ diagnostic characteristics but was not directly associated with patients’ quality of life. Social support, reflected by having multiple caregivers, appeared to play a more important role in influencing quality of life. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.
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