Evaluating the psychometric properties of the mental health continuum-short form (MHC-SF) in Dutch adolescents

Chantie C Luijten,Anna P Nieboer,Daphne Van De Bongardt,Sofie Kuppens

doi:10.1186/s12955-019-1221-y

Chantie C Luijten, Anna P Nieboer + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-019-1221-y

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Abstract

BackgroundMental health is increasingly viewed as the presence of various aspects of well-being rather than just the absence of mental illness. The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is a 14-item instrument that assesses mental health, focusing on emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The present study examined for the first time the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the MHC-SF among adolescents, focusing on its factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, and gender and age factorial invariance.MethodsData were collected from a school-based sample of 1175 adolescents (53.4% girls) aged 11–17 years (M = 13.7; SD = 1.1). Participants completed an online questionnaire in the classroom during regular school hours. Statistical analyses to evaluate the factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, and gender and age factorial invariance were performed in SPSS and R.ResultsUsing confirmatory factor analyses, a satisfactory-to-good fit was obtained for the three-factor model (emotional, psychological, and social well-being). The MHC-SF scores showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .91) and results supported convergent and divergent validity. Finally, the MHC-SF showed gender and age factorial invariance.ConclusionThe current psychometric evaluation indicates the MHC-SF is a reliable and valid instrument to assess multiple dimensions of well-being among Dutch adolescents. The instrument can be applied for research purposes and in clinical practice.

Highlights

Most adolescents in Western societies develop in a healthy and happy way [1], adolescence remains a period of heightened vulnerability to the onset of mental illness [2]
Almost half of the participants (49.1%) had a Dutch ethno-cultural background, while 42.1% had a non-Western ethno-cultural background, and 8.5% had a non-Dutch Western ethno-cultural background
The medical ethics committee of Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands determined that the rules stipulated in the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act did not apply to this study

Summary

Introduction

Most adolescents in Western societies develop in a healthy and happy way [1], adolescence remains a period of heightened vulnerability to the onset of mental illness [2]. This vulnerability is related to the substantial physical, emotional, and social transformations that are characteristic of adolescence [3]. Epidemiological studies of mental illness among adolescents have revealed adolescent mental illness prevalence rates ranging. The sole focus on treatment and prevention of mental illness has not succeeded in reducing the prevalence of mental illness in past decades [7], nor has it prevented early age of onset for mood disorders, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders [8]. The present study examined for the first time the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the MHC-SF among adolescents, focusing on its factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, and gender and age factorial invariance

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