Parental understanding of mental health in young children: The development and initial validation of the parental child mental health literacy questionnaire

Abstract

Aims

Parental understanding of mental health difficulties in young children is crucial for early intervention and support, yet child mental health is often misconceived and stigmatized. The Parental Child Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire (PCMHLQ) was developed to measure parents’ literacy of child mental health and piloted in a general community sample of parents in the UK.

Subjects and methods

The measure was developed in a three-stage process and piloted in 211 parents of children aged 4 – 11 years. Factor structure, convergent validity, and construct validity were assessed.

Results

The final 23-item version produced a five-factor model corresponding to (1) beliefs, (2) fear of stigma or shame, (3) help-seeking confidence, (4) recognition, and (5) knowledge related to young children's mental health. Four factors had acceptable to high internal reliability. Total PCMHLQ was associated with adult mental health literacy and physical health literacy scores. PCMHLQ scores were lower for parents with a child with mental health difficulties, parents with current mental health difficulties, fathers, and low-income parents. Non-White ethnic minority parents held more negative child mental health beliefs, but did not differ in other scales, and parents who had a history of mental health service access had higher recognition but lower help-seeking confidence.

Conclusion

This paper describes the first integrated measure of parental literacy in young children's mental health. Preliminary evidence suggests that the 23-item PCMHLQ has the potential to identify parents with low understanding and to inform tailored community-based interventions and public health initiatives.