Am I willing to take a mental health day off? Integrating perspectives from self-determination theory and the theory of planned behavior
Abstract
Purpose
The mental health issues faced by young people can significantly hinder a nation’s development. The purpose of this study is to integrate the Self-Determination Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior to examine the factors influencing the utilization of mental health days among young individuals.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was conducted to collect data from young people.
Findings
The results indicated that more positive attitudes, favorable subjective norms and a stronger sense of perceived behavioral control regarding mental health days are all associated with a higher intention to use them. Young individuals who have used counseling resources are more likely to endorse the use of mental health days. Satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness has a diminishing effect on both motivation and intention to request mental health days. However, there is a positive relationship between motivation and intention to apply for mental health days. When competence needs are less well satisfied, the motivation and, in turn, the intention to request mental health days are enhanced.
Research limitations/implications
Shifting the leave framework from a disease-centered approach to a psychological leave model focused on mood adjustment can maximize the positive impact of mental health leave.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of the relationships between needs and motivation within the framework of self-determination theory. Furthermore, it integrates components from the theory of planned behavior to examine the influence of social pressures and self-efficacy on the intention to use mental health days. Mental health days can be seen as a cry for help from young adults. The utilization of mental health days serves as an effective means of managing one's mental state.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study would like to thank colleagues from the consultation group of the case University for their assistance in the investigation.
Statements and Declarations.
Conflict of interest: The author has no relevant financial or nonfinancial interests to disclose.
Data availability: The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethical approval: This project has certified for exemption from Human Research Ethics Committee at National Cheng Kung University [HREC(Exempt)112–520].
The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Author contributions The author: I contributed to the study and approved the final manuscript.
Funding: No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.
Citation
Lee, Y.-C. (2024), "Am I willing to take a mental health day off? Integrating perspectives from self-determination theory and the theory of planned behavior", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-08-2024-0138
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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