A preliminary psychometric investigation of a brief positive school experiences scale

IntroductionUniversal screening using measures of mental health symptoms is discounted by UK schools due to stakeholder concerns. This is a preliminary study of the psychometric properties of a new Brief Positive School Experiences (B-PSEs) scale, devised to assess associations between cumulative positive school experiences (PSEs) and adolescent mental health as part of a PhD project that explored PSEs count as a potential proxy measure of adolescent mental health risk.MethodsFive teachers developed a brief 19-item PSEs measure. 460 adolescents (aged 14-16) completed a survey based on these items and items measuring mental health (N = 460). Exploratory factor analysis and measures of internal consistency assessed the scale's preliminary psychometric properties.ResultsThe B-PSEs scale demonstrated a three-factor structure; (1) Coping with school demands; (2) School belonging, safety and support; and (3) Equity and low social adversity. Composite reliability was measured at 0.91.ConclusionThe B-PSEs scale is a reliable measure with a robust factor structure and PSEs scores measured using the scale have demonstrated associations with adolescent mental health outcomes.