Abstract
BackgroundThe Adolescent Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF) is a psychometrically valid tool to evaluate the domains of subjective well-being, but there is a lack of investigations which could distinguish subgroups with distinct subjective well-being profiles based on this measurement. Therefore, after testing the competing measurement models of the MHC-SF, our main aim was to identify subjective well-being profiles in a large adolescent sample.MethodsOn a representative Hungarian adolescent sample (N = 1572; 51% girl; mean age was 15.39, SD = 2.26) confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used to test the factor stucture of the Adolescent MHC-SF. In addition, gender invariance of the best fitting model was also tested. Latent Profile Analyses (LPA) were conducted to reveal distinct subgroups and these profiles were then compared.ResultsResults support the bifactor model of MHC-SF: the general and specific well-being factors which were invariant across gender. LPA yielded four subgroups, three of them have been theoretically hypothesized in previous works (i.e. flourishing, moderate mental health, languishing), but an emotionally vulnerable subgroup also emerged. Compared to the languishing group, this new subgroup demonstrated higher scores on prosocial behaviour, but had comparable level of loneliness and internalizing symptoms.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the MHC-SF is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing overall well-being and its components. In addition, the identification of young people to be at risk for low mental health may help us to tailor mental health promotion programs to their special needs.
Highlights
The Adolescent Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF) is a psychometrically valid tool to evaluate the domains of subjective well-being, but there is a lack of investigations which could distinguish subgroups with distinct subjective well-being profiles based on this measurement
According to less conservative fit measures, among both confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) models a bifactor structure of the well-being items yielded the closest fit to the data
The deviation in the value of Comparative Fit Index (CFI) and Closeness of fit test related to RMSEA (RMSEA) was considered between the two models, using recommendations by Chen [34]
Summary
The Adolescent Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF) is a psychometrically valid tool to evaluate the domains of subjective well-being, but there is a lack of investigations which could distinguish subgroups with distinct subjective well-being profiles based on this measurement. Keyes [2], who developed the MHCM framework, highlights that not everyone with low subjective well-being experiences psychopathology, positive mental health is related to, but different from mental illness. In this dual continua model three levels of mental health (1–3) and three states of mental illness (4–6) emerge: (1) flourishing (high mental health with low mental illness); (2) pure languishing (low mental health and low mental illness); (3) moderate mental health (average mental health with low mental illness); (4) flourishing and mental illness; (5) moderate mental health and mental illness, and (6) languishing together mental illness. Based on integration of earlier theories and research this multidimensional subjective well-being model rests on three foundations: emotional together with psychological and social well-being [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
