A new complex mental health test in a positive psychological framework

Abstract

According to the Maintainable Positive Mental Health Theory (MPMHT), the main pillars of positive mental health are global well-being, efficient coping that enables an individual to maintain positive conditions and functioning, savoring capacity, resilience, and dynamic self-regulation. This study presents the validation of a new five-scale mental health test (MHT), the MHT that operationalizes MPMHT. The methodology comprised two online cross-sectional studies using self-report questionnaires. Participants in Study I (n = 1,736; 448 males, 1,288 females; mean age 51.3 years; SD = 11.6 years) filled in the MHT, the Flow, the Positive emotions, Engagement, Positive Relationship, Meaning, Accomplishment Questionnaire (PERMA-Profiler), and the Flourishing Scale. Participants in Study II (n = 1,083; 233 males, 847 females; mean age 33.9 years; SD = 12.2 years) filled in the MHT, the Shortened Aspiration Index, the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory, the WHO Well-Being Index, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Purpose in Life Test, and the Schema Questionnaire–Short Form. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified a five-factor structure with 17 items in Study I that was confirmed with excellent fit measures in confirmatory factor analysis in Study II. Both studies indicated a high level of internal consistency (above 0.70). In each subscale, a minimum part of 44% did not overlap with the set of the other subscales. The content validity of the subscales was confirmed by 10 tests of mental health. We found a positive correlation of the self-regulation and resilience subscales with age, while women showed a higher level of savoring than men at all age levels. When Study I was replicated after 2 weeks and again after 11 months, excellent internal consistency and good test–retest correlation values of the MHT scales were found. The MHT can thus be considered a reliable and valid measurement tool for mental health.

Preliminary validation of the Mental Health Test in a psychiatric sample

“…The Maintainable Positive Mental Health Theory (MPMHT) 13 , 14 is the first attempt to treat all theory-based and empirically identified components of well-being as the set of features of mental health that reflect the presence and proper functioning of the psychological capacities needed to maintain and promote a positive psychological status and positive mental health. The suggested definition of positive mental health is a high level of global well-being, which goes together with psychological, social, and spiritual well-functioning, psychological resilience, efficient creative executive functioning, and coping and savoring capacities, all of which are pillars that enable flourishing.…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, the Mental Health Test (MHT) 14 , (see Supplementary Table 7 and Table 8 ) which operationalises the MPMHT, is the first measure that offers a comprehensive, five-dimensional framework designed to cover the wide spectrum of psychological resources connected to mental health, equally including individuals who have mental disorders.…”

Mental health competencies are stronger determinants of well-being than mental disorder symptoms in both psychiatric and non-clinical samples

“…Considering positive mental health, previous models of well-being and mental health have focused on the components of well-being and have not fully captured all aspects of mental health as de ned by the World Health Organization [6] and classical theories of mental health [7]. The Maintainable Positive Mental Health Theory (MPMHT) [7,8] considers all theory-based and empirically identi ed components of well-being as features of mental health that re ect the presence and proper functioning of psychological capacities needed to maintain and promote positive psychological status, mental and physical health -even in the presence of mental disorders.…”

“…Considering positive mental health, previous models of well-being and mental health have focused on the components of well-being and have not fully captured all aspects of mental health as de ned by the World Health Organization [6] and classical theories of mental health [7]. The Maintainable Positive Mental Health Theory (MPMHT) [7,8] considers all theory-based and empirically identi ed components of well-being as features of mental health that re ect the presence and proper functioning of psychological capacities needed to maintain and promote positive psychological status, mental and physical health -even in the presence of mental disorders. The proposed de nition of mental health (for either the non-clinical or psychiatric population) includes high levels of global well-being, psychological, social and spiritual functioning, resilience, effective creative and executive functioning, savoring capacities, coping and enjoyment, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms of psychopathology.…”

“…Pillars of Global Well-being according to Maintainable Positive Mental Health Theory The pillars of global well-being refer to the set of mental health characteristics that re ect the presence and proper functioning of the psychological capacities needed to maintain and promote positive psychological status and mental health, according to the Maintainable Positive Mental Health Theory. Table adapted from Ref [7]…”