Pilot Testing a Narrative Psychoeducational Video to Reduce Stigma and Improve Mental Health Literacy and Help-Seeking Among Latinx Adults: Examining Gender Differences and Contextual Insights

Key findings from this study

• The study found that the narrative psychoeducational video successfully increased mental health literacy among the full Latinx sample.
• The researchers report that perceived stigma unexpectedly increased among Latinx females following video exposure, suggesting differential gender effects of the intervention.
• The authors report that increases in mental health literacy and reductions in stigma did not result in corresponding increases in help-seeking intentions, indicating additional factors beyond these constructs influence service utilization behavior.

Overview

This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a culturally informed psychoeducational video intervention designed to increase mental health literacy (MHL) and reduce stigma among non-college-educated Latinx adults, with examination of gender-specific effects and implications for help-seeking intentions. The research addresses documented disparities in mental health service utilization between Latinx and non-Latinx White populations, attributing these gaps in part to lower MHL and elevated stigma within Latinx communities.

Methods and approach

The study employed a mixed-methods design combining quantitative measurement of MHL, perceived stigma, and help-seeking intentions with qualitative analysis of open-ended responses. Participants comprised a non-college-educated Latinx adult sample exposed to a narrative psychoeducational video intervention. Analyses included examination of overall effects and gender-stratified outcomes, followed by qualitative exploration to contextualize quantitative findings and identify additional factors influencing help-seeking behavior.

Results

The video intervention successfully increased MHL across the full sample. However, results revealed a counterintuitive finding: perceived stigma increased among Latinx females following exposure. Changes in MHL and stigma did not translate to increased help-seeking intentions in the overall sample. Qualitative analysis provided contextual understanding of mechanisms through which the video increased MHL and explained the unexpected elevation in perceived stigma among females. Additional qualitative insights identified factors beyond MHL and stigma that may influence help-seeking intentions among Latinx adults.

Implications

The successful increase in MHL suggests that narrative psychoeducational videos can effectively enhance mental health knowledge in non-college-educated Latinx populations. However, the unexpected increase in perceived stigma among females indicates that standardized mental health content may differentially affect stigma experiences across gender groups, necessitating gender-specific considerations in intervention design. These findings suggest that MHL and stigma reduction alone may be insufficient to increase help-seeking intentions, indicating the need for multi-component interventions addressing additional psychosocial and contextual barriers to service utilization.
The qualitative findings provide empirical grounding for understanding mechanisms of intervention effectiveness and unintended effects. The identification of additional factors influencing help-seeking beyond MHL and stigma aligns with ecological models of mental health behavior and suggests that future interventions require integration of cultural, contextual, and structural considerations. These results inform the iterative development of culturally tailored psychoeducational materials that account for gender-specific responses and incorporate modifiable determinants of help-seeking intentions identified through qualitative inquiry.
Future research should employ larger sample sizes with longer follow-up periods to examine sustained effects and behavioral outcomes beyond intentions. Investigation of mechanisms underlying the gender difference in perceived stigma response merits specific attention, as does the development and testing of intervention enhancements targeting identified contextual factors. Implementation science approaches may elucidate barriers to translation of MHL gains into actual service-seeking behavior within Latinx communities.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.