A Short Mental Health Literacy Scale: Validation and Application in Brazil

A Short Mental Health Literacy Scale: Validation and Application in Brazil | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A Short Mental Health Literacy Scale: Validation and Application in Brazil Bernardo Buta, Vilma Couto, Benjamin Tabak, Matheus Froner This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4225202/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Public Health → Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Objective : To validate a version of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) adapted to Brazilian Portuguese, and evaluate the level of mental health literacy in a sample of the Brazilian population. Methods : We applied the Brazilian Portuguese version of the MHLS to a sample of 472 adults. We administered the questionnaire in the presence of the interviewers. We use nonparametric tests to compare literacy scores. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we tested the hypothesis of unidimensionality of the MHLS. The structure that best fit the version of the MHLS in Brazilian Portuguese was extracted through exploratory factor analysis. Results : The results showed that the model with a single-factor structure did not present a good fit. The Brazilian Portuguese adaptation of the MHLS displayed a four-factor structure, comprising 18 items. This version demonstrated satisfactory factor loadings and high levels of reliability. These characteristics suggest that the tool maintains internal consistency and reliability, and can be used to assess mental health literacy effectively. The average MHLS score of the sample was 123.01. The value of the score varies depending on gender, age, education,and the type of health service used. Conclusion : The Brazilian adaptation of the MHLS has been effective in gauging mental health literacy levels among Brazilians. Future efforts to enhance mental health literacy should focus on middleaged people with lower education levels who utilize public services. Mental health literacy Health literacy Scale Validation Structural equation modeling Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files data472.xlsx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Public Health → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Jul, 2024 Reviews received at journal 16 Jul, 2024 Reviews received at journal 15 Jul, 2024 Reviews received at journal 15 Jul, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Jul, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Jul, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Jul, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 Jul, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Jul, 2024 Editor invited by journal 19 Apr, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 11 Apr, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 11 Apr, 2024 First submitted to journal 05 Apr, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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