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International Journal of Public Health
Published in: International Journal of Public Health 2/2012

01-04-2012 | Original Article

Measuring population mental health and social well-being

Authors: Eric Van Lente, Margaret M. Barry, Michal Molcho, Karen Morgan, Dorothy Watson, Janas Harrington, Hannah McGee

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 2/2012

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Abstract

Objectives

This paper examines the relationships between indicators of positive and negative dimensions of mental health, social well-being and physical health.

Methods

The paper reports on data collected in the third National Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN 2007), a cross-sectional survey conducted with a representative sample of 10,364 Irish adults. The survey included measures of positive mental health and non-specific psychological distress from the SF-36 questionnaire, together with measures of social well-being, subjective health, and selected health behaviours.

Results

Positive mental health is predicted by lower levels of loneliness and higher levels of social support. Better self-rated health, positive health behaviours and lower GP consultation rates are associated with higher levels of positive mental health. Lower levels of social well-being, were found to be the strongest predictors of negative mental health.

Conclusions

Social well-being and health behaviours correlate with both positive and negative mental health. These findings highlight the need to endorse comprehensive approaches to population mental health promotion. The inclusion of both positive and negative mental health indicators in future population health surveys is supported by the findings.
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Metadata
Title
Measuring population mental health and social well-being
Authors
Eric Van Lente
Margaret M. Barry
Michal Molcho
Karen Morgan
Dorothy Watson
Janas Harrington
Hannah McGee
Publication date
01-04-2012
Publisher
SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-011-0317-x

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