Cohort differences in attitudes toward mental health services among older persons.

Abstract

In order to investigate historical shifts in attitudes toward mental health and mental health services, two independent samples of older adults separated by a 14-year time interval (1977 sample, N = 91; 1991 sample, N = 116) were administered questionnaires. Four newly created, internally consistent scales assessed multiple dimensions of their mental health attitudes (breadth of conceptions, bias, openness to help, range of problems). Analyses suggested that the younger cohorts of older adults held more positive attitudes toward mental health and mental health services than the older cohorts. These cohort differences remained when controlled for age, level of education, self-reported health, and income. These data indicate a positive cohort shift in attitudes toward mental health, a finding with numerous implications for the design and implementation of mental health services for future cohorts of older persons.

Older peoples' attitudes to mental illness

“…Such attitudes are reported as apparent in both younger and older adults, although both inter-and intracohort attitudinal differences have also been identifi ed (see, for example, Brockington, Hall, Levings, & Murphy, 1993;Scottish Executive, 2004). On the other hand, other research indicates that attitudes are changing over time, becoming increasingly positive and exhibit a greater degree of concordance between younger and older adults in this regard than previously thought (e.g., Currin, Hayslip, Schneider, & Kooken, 1998;Segal, Coolidge, Mincic, & O'Riley, 2005). Many gaps in the literature are also apparent.…”

Psychotherapy in mental health clinics of the Department of Veterans Affairs

“…Studies that have examined specific barriers to receipt of general mental health care have singled out income, lack of insurance coverage, ethnicity, age, and diagnosis (Algeria, Bijl, Lin, Walters, & Kessler, 2000;Currin, Hayslip, Schneider, & Kooken, 1998;Leslie & Rosenheck, 1999;McAlpine & Mechanic, 2000;Padgett, Patrick, Burns, & Schlesinger, 1994).…”

Mental Health Services Structure: The Case of Older Puerto Ricans in Senior Centers

“…This difference may be due to a migration pattern because many Puerto Rican older adults return to the island when they are of advanced age (Duany, 2000). The difference in age can place some of those in the New York City location in a slightly different cohort that may have influenced their lifelong experiences with mental health (Currin, Schneider, Hayslip, & Kooken, 1998). That is, due to historical changes and developments in delivery of mental health services, mental health services have progressively become more visible over the years so those who were born a decade later may have had a different experience and exposure to the topic of mental health and mental health services.…”

“…That is, due to historical changes and developments in delivery of mental health services, mental health services have progressively become more visible over the years so those who were born a decade later may have had a different experience and exposure to the topic of mental health and mental health services. The significance of the age variable is an important finding that may be related to ageist perceptions about mental health issues as part of normal aging; therefore, those in more advance age categories, such as the oldold and the oldest-old, may be at a higher risk for underutilizing mental health services (Currin et al, 1998;Quinn et al, 2009;Woodward & Pachana, 2009).…”