Development and validation of the multidimensional health profile, part I: Psychosocial functioning

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Screening instruments are crucial for identifying individuals needing mental health support.
• Existing tools may not comprehensively assess psychosocial functioning across diverse populations.
• The need for a validated, multidimensional self-report measure in primary and mental healthcare settings is evident.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Multidimensional Health Profile, Part I: Psychosocial Functioning (MHP-P) self-report screening instrument.
• To assess the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the MHP-P in a national sample.
• To examine the impact of time frame on the retest reliability of MHP-P mental health scales.

Main Methods:

• The MHP-P was developed as a self-report questionnaire.
• Study 1 involved a national sample (N=673) to examine retest reliability, validity, social desirability bias, and factor structure.
• Study 2 (N=147 college students) investigated the effect of time frame on mental health scale retest reliability.
• Study 3 (N=2,411) conducted confirmatory factor analyses and norm development.

Main Results:

• Preliminary validation indicates the MHP-P demonstrates good retest reliability and validity.
• Factor analyses supported the proposed structure of the MHP-P, assessing mental health, life stress, coping skills, and social resources.
• Norms were developed for a national sample, enhancing its utility for diverse populations.

Conclusions:

• The MHP-P is a promising, psychometrically sound screening instrument for psychosocial functioning.
• Its multidimensional nature and validation in large samples support its use in mental health and primary care.
• The MHP-P can aid in identifying individuals requiring further mental health assessment and intervention.