Association Between Beliefs Toward Mental Disorders and Negative Attitudes Toward Psychiatric Medication in Teachers
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between teachers' beliefs toward mental disorders and their attitudes toward psychiatric medications. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 teachers working in Aksaray Province, Türkiye. Data were collected online using a questionnaire prepared by the researchers and the Beliefs toward Mental Illness Scale. The construct validity and internal consistency of the questionnaire prepared by the researchers were evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Cronbach’s alpha, respectively. Results: Teachers with higher levels of negative beliefs toward mental disorders also exhibited higher levels of negative attitudes toward psychiatric medications. In the final hierarchical multiple linear regression model, younger age (β = −0.23), male sex (β = 0.28), more years of professional experience (β = 0.22), and higher levels of negative beliefs toward mental disorders (β = 0.49) were independently associated with more negative attitudes toward psychiatric medications. The addition of beliefs toward mental disorders increased the explained variance from R² = 0.17 to R² = 0.39 (ΔR² = 0.22). Conclusion: Teachers' negative beliefs toward mental disorders were independently associated with negative attitudes toward psychiatric medications. Including evidence-based content on mental disorders and psychiatric medications in teacher training and in-service programs may be beneficial.
DOI: 10.18863/pgy.1993854
Authors: Esra Aslan, Şengül Şahin
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7221449195