Assessment of students’ mental health assessment in positive and negative aspect. Mental health inventory (IZP)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop and validate a standardized inventory assessing the mental health of young adults. The originality of the proposed approach lies in the fact that the inventory refers to both the positive and negative dimension of mental health. 405 students were examined, including 292 women and 113 men. When assessing the accuracy of the newly created instrument, the covariance of its results with the results of other tools measuring mental health or its aspects: General Health Questionnaire GHQ-28; Questionnaire for Quality of Life Assessment WHOQL-BREF; Questionnaire of Life Orientation by A. Antonowsky was assessed. Additionally, the covariance of personality traits defined by the Big Five Model as well as a temperamental dimensions of Regulative Temperament Theory was assessed. An analysis of the factor structure of the questionnaire was also performed. Although the results of the factor analysis indicate a unidimensional structure of the IZP, the correlation between its two dimensions equals -0.65. In addition, there was a correlation between both the positive dimension of mental health and negative health with neuroticism and emotional reactivity. The results of analyzes of personality and temperamental measures with data obtained using the Mental Health Inventory suggest the utility of the tool in the assessment of mental health indicators in both negative and positive aspect.