Factorial Validity of the Twi Version of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form and Prevalence of Mental Health in a Rural Ghanaian Sample

Measuring Positive Mental Health and Depression in Africa: A Variable-Based and Person-Centred Analysis of the Dual-Continua Model

“…These modifications were the covariance of error residuals between items 4 ( one has something important to contribute: social contribution ) and 5 ( one belonged to a community: social belonging ), and between 6 ( society becoming a better place: social actualisation ) and 8 ( the way society works makes sense: social coherence ) of the social well-being dimension. This finding dovetails with previous report and supposition from the sub-Saharan African context that people may see themselves to contribute (item 4) to communities to which they feel they belong (item 5), and that society would be seen to become better (item 6) when it is run/working well (item 8; Schutte and Wissing, 2017 ; Appiah et al, 2022 ). Similar to our finding, Santini et al (2020) found the social well-being items, specifically item 6 ( society becoming a better place ) and item 4 ( one has something important to contribute ) to be problematic.…”

“…The model yielded high reliabilities and significant factor loadings on the theoretically intended dimensions/target factors. Although some studies have found similar results in the past (e.g., Keyes et al, 2008 ; Khumalo et al, 2012 ), others have had different evidence also emerge (e.g., Santini et al, 2020 ; Lebares et al, 2021 ; Appiah et al, 2022 ). Santini et al (2020) found the MHC-FS as a composite measure to be reliable, and its factor structure to be better accounted for by a bipolar solution, yet with low reliabilities for the subscales.…”

“… Appiah et al (2022) surmised that individuals from highly collectivistic African societies could experience some levels of intrapsychic conflict and the psychological burden when tasked to self-evaluate themselves or their contributions to others or society. In the Ghanaian collectivistic cultural context, for instance, self-evaluations in the public space could be interpreted as a show of pride or boasting ( Gyekye, 2010 ; Appiah, 2020 ).…”

“… Basson and Rothmann (2018) examined the MHC-SF latent profiles amongst a sample of South African students, using LCA, and found three groups. Researchers found poor omega reliability indices ranging between 0.41 and 0.57 for the MHC-SF subscales, but a high internal consistency for the general positive mental health factor ( ω = 0.97) in a sample of rural Ghanaian adults ( Appiah et al, 2022 ), partially confirming the underlying three-dimensional structure of mental health. Of note, Appiah et al (2022) adopted interpretation of Perreira et al (2018) that omega coefficients of ω > 0.50 represent satisfactory reliability for bifactor models.…”

“…It consists of three subscales measuring emotional well-being (EWB; three items), social well-being (SWB; five items), and psychological well-being (PWB; six items). Most studies (e.g., Lamers et al, 2011a , b ; Diedericks and Rothmann, 2013 ; Schutte and Wissing, 2017 ; Appiah et al, 2022 ) have reported empirical evidence of the theoretically intended tripartite factor structure. Basson and Rothmann (2018) examined the MHC-SF latent profiles amongst a sample of South African students, using LCA, and found three groups.…”