The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) in the Argentinean Context: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Measurement Invariance

LUPANO PERUGINI, MARÍA LAURA; DE LA IGLESIA, GUADALUPE; CASTRO SOLANO, ALEJANDRO; KEYES, COREY

Europe´s Journal of Psychology

PsychOpen

Año: 2017 vol. 13 p. 93 - 108

0303-8300

The present research aimed at studying the psychometric properties of the MentalHealth Continuum Short Form (MHC?SF; Keyes, 2005) in a sample of 1,300Argentinean adults (50% males; 50% females). Their mean age was 40.28 years old (SD= 13.59). The MHC SF is a 14 item test that assesses three components (i.e., emotional,social, and psychological) of well-being. Convergent and divergent evidence of construct validity was assessed by conducting confirmatory factor analysis, cross validation,factorial invariance, and correlations with external criteria. Internal consistency was studied using Cronbach alphas. Results indicated an adequate fit of athree-dimensional model. This structure was also confirmed, and was invariant throughout sex and age. The emotional well-being scores converged with satisfaction with life and positive affect measures; the psychological well-being scale had a positive association with the presence of meaning in life; and the social well-being scores showed a positive and strong correlation with an external measure of well-being. Also,all scores (overall and subscales) were negatively associated with negative affect, searchof meaning in life, and presence of depression symptoms. Internal consistency was .89for the MHC SF. The MHC SF is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of population mental health in Argentina.