Attitudes toward mental health services in Hispanic older adults: the role of misconceptions and personal beliefs.

Focusing on misconceptions and personal beliefs associated with depression, the present study explored predictors of attitudes toward mental health services in a sample of 297 Hispanic older adults living in public housing (M age = 76.0 years, SD = 7.74). Results from a hierarchical regression analysis showed that negative attitudes towards mental health services were predicted by advanced age, belief that having depression would make family members disappointed, and belief that counseling brings too many bad feelings such as anger and sadness. Findings suggest that interventions designed to promote positive attitudes toward mental health services of older Hispanics should address misconceptions and personal beliefs.