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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Research

Measuring positive mental health and flourishing in Denmark: validation of the mental health continuum-short form (MHC-SF) and cross-cultural comparison across three countries

Authors: Ziggi Ivan Santini, Manuel Torres-Sahli, Carsten Hinrichsen, Charlotte Meilstrup, Katrine R. Madsen, Signe Boe Rayce, Melissa M. Baker, Margreet Ten Have, Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra, Vibeke Koushede

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The Mental Health Continuum–Short Form (MHC-SF) is a measure of positive mental health and flourishing, which is widely used in several countries but has not yet been validated in Denmark. This study aimed to examine its qualitative and quantitative properties in a Danish population sample and compare scores with Canada and the Netherlands.

Methods

Three thousand five hundred eight participants aged 16–95 filled out an electronic survey. Both the unidimensional and multidimensional aspects of the Danish MHC-SF were studied through bifactor modelling. Cognitive interviews examined face validity and usability.

Results

The general score of the Danish MHC-SF was reliable for computing unit-weighted composite scores, as well as using a bifactor model to compute general factor scores or measurement models in an SEM context. Nonetheless, subscale scores were unreliable, explaining very low variance beyond that explained by the general factor. The participants of the qualitative interviews observed problems with wording and content of the items, especially from the social subscale. The general score correlated with other scales as expected. We found substantial variation in flourishing prevalence rates between the three cultural settings.

Conclusions

The Danish MHC-SF produced reliable general scores of well-being. Most of the issues observed regarding the subscale scores have been shown in previous research in other contexts. The further analysis of indices of the bifactor model and the inclusion of qualitative interviews allowed for a better understanding of the possible sources of problems with the questionnaire’s subscales. The use of subscales, the substantive understanding of the general score, as well as the operationalization of the state of flourishing, require further study.
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Metadata
Title
Measuring positive mental health and flourishing in Denmark: validation of the mental health continuum-short form (MHC-SF) and cross-cultural comparison across three countries
Authors
Ziggi Ivan Santini
Manuel Torres-Sahli
Carsten Hinrichsen
Charlotte Meilstrup
Katrine R. Madsen
Signe Boe Rayce
Melissa M. Baker
Margreet Ten Have
Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra
Vibeke Koushede
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01546-2

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