Development and validation of the mental health self-care scale for the general adult population

To develop and psychometrically validate the Mental Health Self-Care Scale (MHSCS) for assessing mental health self-care behaviours in the general adult population.

Cross-sectional survey.

A 62-item initial pool grounded in the updated Middle Range Theory of Self-Care was refined through expert review (n = 11) and cognitive interviewing (n = 24), then administered to 600 Russian adults recruited via an online panel. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Criterion-related validity was examined using correlations and adjusted linear and logistic regression models predicting depressive symptom severity and clinically significant depression (PHQ-8).

Confirmatory factor analysis supported a six-factor structure (Basic Routines, Active Lifestyle, Existential, Self-Compassion, Health-Adaptive, Professional Engagement) comprising 45 items (CFI = 0.826, TLI = 0.815, RMSEA = 0.052, SRMR = 0.060). Subscale reliability was acceptable (McDonald's omega 0.737-0.883). Higher Existential, Active Lifestyle, Basic Routines, and Self-Compassion scores were associated with lower PHQ-8 scores, whereas Professional Engagement and Health-Adaptive scores were associated with higher PHQ-8 scores. Basic Routines and Self-Compassion were associated with lower odds of clinically significant depression, while Professional Engagement and Health-Adaptive behaviours were associated with higher odds.

The MHSCS provides a multidimensional, theory-informed measure of mental health self-care behaviours in the general adult population. The findings support preliminary use in public health and research settings, with further refinement and cross-cultural validation warranted.