Gender differences and mental health: An exploratory study of knowledge and attitudes to mental health among Scottish teenagers

Method: A cross-sectional survey of 496 teenagers was conducted in order to explore their knowledge and attitude towards mental health and people with mental health problems. Results: Boys reported lower levels of knowledge and different sources of stress than girls. Negative attitudes were more common among boys than girls. Boys were less likely to think that an understanding of mental health was important, less likely to want to know more about mental health issues and twice as likely to think that they had already been given enough education. Conclusion: Gender specific educational interventions may be more appropriate and effective than whole school approaches.