Reliability and validity of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire in a sample of Spanish university students.
WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: In general, the current studies of positive mental health use questionnaires or parts thereof. However, while these questionnaires evaluate aspects of positive mental health, they fail to measure the construct itself. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The widespread use and the lack of specific questionnaires for evaluating the positive mental health construct justify the need to measure the robustness of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire. Also six factors are proposed to measure positive mental health. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The availability of a good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals.
Introduction Nursing has a relevant role in managing mental health. It is important to identify and thereafter to enhance positive aspects of mental health among university nursing students. Aim The aim of the present study was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) in terms of reliability and validity using confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of university students. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 1091 students at 4 nursing schools in Catalonia, Spain. The reliability of the PMHQ was measured by means of Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the test-retest stability was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the validity of the factorial structure. Results Cronbach's alpha coefficient was satisfactory (>0.70) for four of the six subscales or dimensions and ranged from 0.54 to 0.79. ICC analysis was satisfactory for the six subscales or dimensions. The hypothesis was confirmed in the analysis of the correlations between subclasses and the overall scale, with the strongest correlations being found between the majority of the subscales and the overall scale. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model proposed for the factors fit the data satisfactorily. Discussion This scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating positive mental health in university students. Implications for Practice A good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals.
Campus Docent, Sant Joan de Déu-Fundació Privada, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Faculty of Nursing, Rovira i Virgili University of Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.|Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Research Group GEIMAC (Group Consolidat 2014-1139: Grupo de Estudios de Invarianza de los Instrumentos de Medida y Análisis del Cambio en los Ámbitos Social y de la Salud), Barcelona, Spain.|Research Group CIBERSAM (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental), Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.|Research Group GIRISAME (International Researchers Group of Mental Health Nursing Care), Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
Roldán-Merino
Research Group GEIMAC (Group Consolidat 2014-1139: Grupo de Estudios de Invarianza de los Instrumentos de Medida y Análisis del Cambio en los Ámbitos Social y de la Salud), Barcelona, Spain.|Research Group GIRISAME (International Researchers Group of Mental Health Nursing Care), Barcelona, Spain.|Mental Health Sciences Department, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
M T
MT
Lluch-Canut
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Preventive Medicine Service, Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, Spain.
I
I
Casas
Facultat de Ciències de la Salut. Fundació Blanquerna, Universitat RamonLlull, Barcelona, Spain.
M
M
Sanromà-Ortíz
Faculty of Nursing, Rovira i Virgili University of Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.|Research Group GIRISAME (International Researchers Group of Mental Health Nursing Care), Barcelona, Spain.|Research Group Emergent Infermeria Avançada SGR1030, Tarragona, Spain.
C
C
Ferré-Grau
Research Group GIRISAME (International Researchers Group of Mental Health Nursing Care), Barcelona, Spain.|Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, Coordenador do Grupo de InvestigaçãoNursID: Innovation and development in Nursing -CINTESIS- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto., Porto, Portugal.
C
C
Sequeira
Research Group GIRISAME (International Researchers Group of Mental Health Nursing Care), Barcelona, Spain.|Department of Fundamental Care and Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing. University of Barcelona., Barcelona, Spain.|Research Group SRG Consolidat 2014-326 GTEAAP, Barcelona, Spain.
A
A
Falcó-Pegueroles
Faculty of Nursing, Rovira i Virgili University of Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
D
D
Soares
Research Group GIRISAME (International Researchers Group of Mental Health Nursing Care), Barcelona, Spain.|Mental Health Sciences Department, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Research Group Emergent Infermeria Avançada SGR1030, Tarragona, Spain.
M
M
Puig-Llobet
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
Health promotion; Mental health promotion; Public health; Scales and assessment