Clusters of Patient Empowerment and Mental Health Literacy Differentiate Professional Help-Seeking Attitudes in Online Mental Health Communities Users.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Grounded in the Health Empowerment Model, which posits that health literacy and patient empowerment are intertwined yet distinct constructs, this study investigates how the interplay of these factors influences attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help in members of online communities for mental health (OCMHs). This while acknowledging the multidimensionality of patient empowerment, encompassing meaningfulness, competence, self-determination, and impact.

Design and methods

A cluster analysis of data gathered from 269 members of Italian-speaking OCMHs on Facebook has been performed.

Results

Four profiles have been identified: dangerous self-managers (11.2%), effective self-managers (21.2%), disempowered (40.5%) and ambivalent empowered (27.1%)

SUBMITTER: Bizzotto N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11735741 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature