Psychometric Evaluation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) for Dutch Adolescents
- PDF / 613,414 Bytes
- 11 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 11 Downloads / 162 Views
ORIGINAL PAPER
Psychometric Evaluation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) for Dutch Adolescents Anne Kennes
1
●
Sanne Peeters1,2 Mayke Janssens1,2 Jennifer Reijnders1 Johan Lataster1,2 Nele Jacobs1,2 ●
●
●
●
1234567890();,:
1234567890();,:
© The Author(s) 2020
Abstract This study examined the structure, reliability, and convergent validity of the adolescent version of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (Dutch MHC-SF-A), a self-report questionnaire for positive mental health assessment. This questionnaire was completed by 459 Dutch adolescents (178 boys and 281 girls) between the ages of 11 and 18 years at baseline and at a 4-week follow-up. Results revealed the 3-factor structure in emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing, a high internal reliability and a moderate test–retest reliability. Findings suggest that mental illness and well-being represent two related but distinct continua of mental health. Fostering adolescents’ well-being is important. Promoting positive emotions, creating a supportive and loving parent–adolescent relationship, and a supportive school environment will contribute to this. Keywords Psychometric properties Positive mental health Well-being Adolescent Mental illness ●
●
●
●
Highlights Well-being and mental illness are two related but distinct indicators of mental health in Dutch adolescents. ● The MHC-SF-A was shown to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure well-being among Dutch adolescents, measuring emotional, psychological and social well-being. ● Both measures of mental illness and well-being, such as the MHC-SF-A, are needed to map mental health in adolescents and to monitor intervention or therapy outcomes in adolescents. ● The findings suggest that promoting positive emotions, creating a supportive and loving parent–adolescent relationship, and a supportive school environment contribute to adolescents’ mental health. ●
Adolescence is a phase of profound development that involves the transition from childhood to young adulthood. This period is accompanied by various extensive changes in the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social domains (Sisk and Zehr 2005). Adolescence involves the sexual maturation and the physical development of the body, as well as a consolidation of the adolescent’s identity and understanding of the self in relation to the social world (Coleman and
* Anne Kennes [email protected] 1
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands
2
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Hendry 1990). The focus of social interactions changes and gradually shifts from the family to peers (Brown 2004; Keyes 1998). Parental influence and support decrease, whereas the influence of friends increases (Furman and Buhrmester 1992). While adolescents need to deal with these rapid developmental challenges, they experience an increase in emotional reactivity and negative emotions (Colten and G
Data Loading...
