The validity and reliability of Positive Mental Health Scale

Objective: The objective of this study is to carry out the validity and reliability of Positive Mental Health Scale (PMHS). Methods: This study of methodological type was conducted with 499 students attending the department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences of a university between December 2016 and June 2017. The data were collected through Introductory Information Form and Positive Mental Health Scale. In the analysis of the data, SPSS 22, LISREL 8.80 software and RUMM Version 5.3 for Windows were utilized. For validity assessment of the scale, language validity, scope/content validity, structural validity, and internal structure validity according to rash analysis were considered; for reliability assessment, test-retest and inner consistency reliability values were calculated. Findings: Within the scope of validity and reliability studies of PMHS, it was found out that the content validity of 79.5% of scale items was at and over 0.80 value; in the consequence of Confirmatory Factor Analysis, made for assessing structural validity, Turkish form of the scale confirmed six factor structure, and adaptive statistical values of scale were at acceptable/agreeable level. Test-retest reliability coefficient of PMHS and Cronbach’s alpha relia-bility coefficient values of total scale and of sub-dimensions were found to be over 0.70. Also, it was determined that PMHS showed good adjustment to Rasch model (internal structure validity) and was a reliable scale (PSI=0.94) according to adjustment goodness statistics and reliability values. Conclusion: In the consequence of the conducted analyses, it has been determined that Positive Mental Health Scale has scope/content validity, structural validity, test-retest reliability, Cronbach alpha inner consistency and internal structural consistency and reliability, and is a valid and reliable measuring tool to be used in assessing individuals’ positive mental health in Turkey.