Abstract
BackgroundMeasures of mental well-being and positive mental health (PMH) have been largely developed and used in Western populations, however, data on representative Asian communities are lacking. Using data from a population sample, this study sought to establish psychometric properties and norms of the PMH Instrument (PMH-I), a measure of positive mental health developed in Singapore.MethodsWe conducted a nationally representative survey among 1925 adults aged 18–79 years of Chinese, Malay, Indian or other ethnicity. Participants reported socio-demographic characteristics and completed the PMH-I along with measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological distress. Construct validity of the PMH-I was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis and concurrent validity was tested through correlation with other psychological measures. Normative PMH values and differences in population subgroups were estimated.ResultsThe six-factor-higher-order structure of the PMH-I comprising six subscales of general coping, emotional support, spirituality, interpersonal skills, personal growth and autonomy and global affect was confirmed. Concurrent validity was shown through significant positive correlation of the total PMH score and its subscales with HRQoL and an inverse correlation with psychological distress. Weighted age, gender and ethnicity-specific norms were derived for the Singapore population. Total PMH was significantly higher in participants aged over 40 years as compared with 18–29 year olds and in non-Chinese ethnic groups as compared with Chinese. These differences were observed for all PMH-I subscales, with the exception of emotional support and interpersonal skills score differences by age. In contrast, gender, marital status, and education level were significantly associated with some of the subscales, but not with total PMH.ConclusionsThese results support the psychometric properties of the PMH-I in a multi-ethnic Asian population sample. The generalizable population-based norms support the application of the PMH-I for measuring mental health and assessing its determinants within the Singapore general population.
Highlights
Measures of mental well-being and positive mental health (PMH) have been largely developed and used in Western populations, data on representative Asian communities are lacking
The sample comprised 71.1% Chinese, 14.1% Malays, 11% Indians, and 3.9% other ethnicities. This is similar to the ethnic distribution in the Singapore population of 74.2% Chinese, 13.3% Malay, 9.2% Indian and 3.3% other ethnicities
Concurrent validity was shown through significant positive correlation of the total PMH score and its subscales with health-related quality of life and a negative correlation with psychological distress
Summary
Measures of mental well-being and positive mental health (PMH) have been largely developed and used in Western populations, data on representative Asian communities are lacking. The World Health Organization (WHO) operationalized a working definition for mental health as a ‘state of wellbeing’ in which individuals realise their own potential, are able to cope with stress, and contribute to the community [1]. This definition provided a composite of the two wellbeing approaches and has served as a broad theoretical opportunity to investigate mental health status of communities across the world
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