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Journals / Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 16 Issue: 81

Sociodemographic and Educational Factors as Predictors of Mental Health Literacy in Pre-service Teachers Studying at a University in Türkiye

Kübra Solak(Amasya İl Sağlık Müdürlüğü)0000-0002-6033-6003
Faruk Yorulmaz(TRAKYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, HALK SAĞLIĞI ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-3826-2984
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-06-29
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

It was found that there were significant gender differences, with females reporting higher MHL than males.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The study examined links between pre-service teachers’ mental health literacy (MHL) and their sociodemographic, educational, and health-related characteristics.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Self-report questionnaires, including the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHL-Scale), were completed by 704 candidates using a mixed-mode survey design (online and paper-and-pencil formats).
💡
Conclusion & Impact:It was found that there were significant gender differences, with females reporting higher MHL than males.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Mental health literacy · School mental health · Sociodemographic factors

Abstract

The study examined links between pre-service teachers’ mental health literacy (MHL) and their sociodemographic, educational, and health-related characteristics. Self-report questionnaires, including the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHL-Scale), were completed by 704 candidates using a mixed-mode survey design (online and paper-and-pencil formats). It was found that there were significant gender differences, with females reporting higher MHL than males. Subsequently, Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) analyses using the MHL-Scale total score were conducted separately for each gender. Specifically, the HMR model for female candidates significantly predicted MHL, with educational and sociodemographic characteristics accounting for 18.5% of the total variance (Adjusted R2 = .185, p < .001), where the department was the strongest predictor (β = .27). Similarly, the HMR model for male candidates was also significant, explaining 13.5% of the total variance (Adjusted R2 = .135, p < .001), with the accommodation status (β = .35 and β =.33) and Guidance and Psychological Counselling (GPC) department (β = .29) emerging as the strongest predictors. These findings provide evidence-based guidance for teacher education programs, emphasizing the need for mandatory, targeted curricula and interventions to boost MHL capacity, particularly among male candidates and those in non-GPC departments/unsupported living situations, and thereby enhance their future contribution to school-based mental health.

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Cite This Article

Solak, K., Yorulmaz, F., *, K. S. (2026). Sociodemographic and Educational Factors as Predictors of Mental Health Literacy in Pre-service Teachers Studying at a University in Türkiye. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, Volume: 16 Issue: 81. https://doi.org/10.17066/tpdrd.1658125

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