Attitudes toward Mental Health Services among Detained Adolescents: The Role of CU Traits

Youth involved in the juvenile justice system are at risk for a multitude of psychological and adjustment difficulties. Unfortunately, oftentimes these individuals do not receive the services needed. Attitudes toward mental health services contribute to whether an individual receives help; yet little is known about factors that are associated with detained youths' attitudes regarding help. The current study advanced the literature by further examining how youth self-reports of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and aggression were related to attitudes toward mental health services among 229 detained youth (74.5% male, M-age = 15.52 years, SDage = 1.54). Additionally, the influence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits was examined. Findings suggest that while anxiety symptoms were associated with more positive attitudes toward mental health services, symptoms of depression and CU traits were associated with less positive attitudes toward mental health services. However, CU traits did not moderate associations between symptom clusters and attitudes toward mental health services. Findings suggest the need to consider internalizing symptom clusters as well as CU traits in how to approach youth regarding treatment engagement.