Beyond the Unitary: Direct, Moderated, and Mediated Associations of Mindfulness Facets with Mental Health Literacy and Treatment-Seeking Attitudes

Background and Objectives: Psychological disorders are prevalent and distressing. Early treatment initiation can prevent adverse outcomes and reduce healthcare system impacts. Improving mental health literacy (MHL)—one’s knowledge regarding psychological disorders—and treatment-seeking attitudes (TSAs) is key in early treatment initiation. Examining the facets of dispositional mindfulness—the capacity to pay attention to present-moment experiences with acceptance—may offer more granular insights into understanding MHL and TSAs. This study examined (a) associations between mindfulness facets and MHL and TSAs, (b) facets’ prediction of MHL and TSAs beyond demographics, (c) moderation of the MHL–TSA relationship by mindfulness facets, and (d) mediation of mindfulness–TSA relationships via general self-efficacy (GSE). Methods: A community sample of 299 adults was recruited online (TurkPrime) and completed demographic questions and self-report measures: Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-15, Mental Health Literacy Scale, Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: Describe, Non-Judgment, and Act with Awareness were modestly associated with MHL; all five facets correlated with TSAs. Hierarchical regressions controlling for demographics showed that Describe and Non-Reactivity predicted MHL, while Act with Awareness uniquely predicted TSAs. Non-Reactivity moderated the MHL–TSA relationship, with higher Non-Reactivity amplifying the relationship. GSE fully mediated relationships between Observe and Non-Judgment with TSAs, suggesting self-efficacy is a key mechanism of these facets. Conclusions: Interventions cultivating Non-Reactivity, Describe, and Act with Awareness may improve the translation of mental health knowledge into treatment-seeking behaviors. Future research should explore how mindfulness facets independently and interactively foster early intervention and treatment engagement.