The relationship between the beliefs of students studying at the faculty of health sciences toward mental illnesses and their personality types

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the beliefs of students studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences toward mental illnesses, how their sociodemographic characteristics affect these beliefs, and the relationship between their personality types and these beliefs.
METHODS: Students from the Faculty of Health Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics, Social Work, Health Management, Audiology, and Nursing) studying at a state university were included in the sample of the descriptive study (n=491). The Personal Information Form, Beliefs Toward Mental Illness (BMI) Scale, and Type A and Type B Personality Questionnaire were used as data collection tools. The evaluation of the obtained data was performed using the SPSS 24.0 program, number and percentage distribution frequency, Spearman correlation, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis, and the t-test. The limit of statistical significance was p<0.05.
RESULTS: Of the student participants, 42.2% had type A personality behavior, and 57.8% had type B personality behavior. It was seen that the negative beliefs of the students toward mental illness were moderate (45.7±15.1). There was a significant difference between the total score of the students on the BMI scale and their personality types (p<.000). It was determined that individuals with type B personality behavior had fewer negative beliefs about mental illnesses than individuals with type A personality behavior (p<.000).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: According to the results of the research, it was determined that there was a significant relationship between personality types and beliefs toward mental illnesses. Nurses, in their role as researchers, can examine the relationship between personality type and stigma in mental illness. Based on the studies showing that negative beliefs and attitudes toward mental illnesses are reduced with education, nurses as trainers can organize awareness trainings for mental illnesses, which is an important component of their profession.