Attitudes Toward Psychotherapeutic Treatment and Health Literacy in a Large Sample of the General Population in Germany: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Schröder Rebekka , Hamer Tim , Suhr Ralf , König Lars 
Published: January 2025

Background

Prevalences of mental disorders are increasing worldwide. However, many people with mental health problems do not receive adequate treatment. An important factor preventing individuals from seeking professional help is negative attitudes toward psychotherapeutic treatment. Although a positive shift in attitudes has been observed in recent years, there is still substantial stigma surrounding psychotherapeutic treatment. First studies have linked higher health literacy with more positive attitudes toward psychotherapy, but more research is needed in this area.

Objective

This study aimed to examine how general and mental health literacy are associated with attitudes toward psychotherapeutic treatment in Germany. Additionally, associations between sociodemographic factors, experience with psychotherapy, and attitudes toward psychotherapy were explored.

Methods

A random sample was drawn from a panel representative of the German-speaking population with internet access in Germany and invited to participate in the study via email. Overall, 2000 individuals aged ≥16 years completed the web-based survey with standardized questionnaires in September and October 2022. Attitudes toward psychotherapy and both general and mental health literacy were assessed using the Questionnaire on Attitudes Towards Psychotherapeutic Treatment (QAPT) with 2 subscales (“positive attitudes” and “non-acceptance of society”), the European Health Literacy Survey instrument (HLS-EU-Q16) and the Mental Health Literacy Tool for the Workplace (MHL-W-G). Associations between the questionnaire scales were assessed with Pearson correlations. Additionally, basic sociodemographic information and information on personal and family experiences with psychotherapy were collected. Pearson correlations (age), ANOVAs (level of education and subjective social status), and t tests (experience with psychotherapy, gender, and migration background) were used to analyze how these relate to attitudes toward psychotherapy.

Results

More favorable attitudes toward psychotherapy and lower perceived societal nonacceptance were found in those with higher general (r=0.14, P<.001; r=−0.32, P<.001, respectively) and mental health literacy (r=0.18, P<.001; r=−0.23, P<.001, respectively). Participants with treatment experience for mental health problems (t1260.12=−10.40, P<.001, Cohen d=−0.49; t1050.95=3.06, P=.002, Cohen d=0.16) and who have relatives with treatment experience (t1912.06=−5.66, P<.001, Cohen d=−0.26; t1926=4.77, P<.001, Cohen d=0.22) reported more positive attitudes and higher perceived societal acceptance than those without treatment experience. In terms of sociodemographic differences, being a woman (t1992=−3.60, P<.001, Cohen d=−0.16), younger age (r=−0.11, P<.001), higher subjective social status (F2,1991=5.25, P=.005, η2=.005), and higher levels of education (F2,1983=22.27, P<.001, η2=.021) were associated with more positive attitudes toward psychotherapeutic treatment. Being a man (t1994=5.29, P<.001, Cohen d=0.24), younger age (r=−0.08, P<.001), and lower subjective social status (F2,1993=7.71, P<.001, η2=.008) were associated with higher perceived nonacceptance of psychotherapy.

Conclusions

Positive associations between attitudes toward psychotherapy and both general and mental health literacy were delineated. Future studies should investigate whether targeted health literacy interventions directed at individuals with lower general and mental health literacy might also help to improve attitudes toward psychotherapeutic treatment and help-seeking behavior.