PAPER ID: Vol. IV Issue I (April to June 2026 ) /1-8 /1
AUTHOR : EDETA, EWOMAZINO JAMES
TITLE: THE ROLE OF MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY AND CULTURAL BELIEFS IN SHAPING FAMILY CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA
ABSTRACT: This article investigates the role of mental health literacy and cultural beliefs in shaping family caregiving responsibilities for mentally ill persons in South-South Nigeria. Drawing from a larger cross-sectional study of 372 family caregivers across six states, the study examined how knowledge about mental illness and belief systems influence family duty of care. Using attribution theory, symbolic interactionism, and labeling theory as frameworks, findings revealed a significant positive relationship between knowledge and family caregiving (r = .973, p < .05), explaining 94.7% of variance in caregiving behaviors. Beliefs about mental illness showed an even stronger correlation with caregiving responsibilities (r = .981, p < .05), accounting for 96.2% of variance. Qualitative data from 25 key informant interviews revealed that supernatural attributions (bewitchment, repercussion) significantly influenced treatment-seeking pathways, often delaying orthodox medical intervention. The study concludes that improving mental health literacy and addressing culturally embedded belief systems are essential for enhancing family caregiving outcomes in resource-limited settings.
KEYWORDS: Mental health literacy, cultural beliefs, family caregiving, mental illness, South-South Nigeria, and attribution theory
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