J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.
2011 Mar;50(2):116-124.
The Development of the 'Mental Fitness' Scale
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jongmin.woo@gmail.com
- 2Stress Research Institute, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Seoul Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Addiction Rehabilitation and Social Welfare, Eulji University, Seongnam, Korea.
- 5Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Ulsan University, Ulsan, Korea.
- 6Department of Psychiatry, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University School of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
- 7Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
- 8Korean Employee Professional Association, Daejeon, Korea.
- 9Department of Neuropsychiatry, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the 'Mental Fitness'Scale, which was designed to measure the characteristics of being mentally fit or positive mental health.
METHODS
Interviews using open-ended questions were conducted on 105 healthy adults between 20 and 65 years of age to obtain the 25 candidate items of the 'Mental Fitness' Scale. To evaluate the validity of the new scale, these items and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS) were administered to 212 healthy adults. To assess test-retest reliability, the preliminary 'Mental Fitness' Scale items were administered two weeks later to 47 healthy subjects selected by random sampling. A comparison was made between the 212 healthy subjects and 42 psychiatric patients with depressive or anxiety disorders.
RESULTS
Factor analysis yielded four subscales (mental energy, empathic communication, flexibility, and self-assurance). Five items were excluded due to their low factor loadings. The test-retest reliability coefficients were significantly high, ranging between 0.57-0.76. Internal consistency was computed, and Cronbach's alpha for four subscales ranged between 0.66-0.88, and was 0.90 for the total score. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the four subscales and the total score with total scores on the BDI, PANAS, and ESS. The correlations were all at significant levels.
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that the 'Mental Fitness' Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing positive mental health.
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