The Development of the 'Mental Fitness' Scale / 신경정신의학

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.