ABSTRACT

This study aims to test psychometric analysis of the Turkish version of “mental health-promoting knowledge scale (MHPK)” measuring adolescents’ knowledge on how they can obtain and maintain a good mental health.

This study was conducted with 137 adolescents studying at a high school between November 1, 2020 and January 15, 2021.The data for the study were collected by using the socio-demographic characteristics and mental health information form and MHPK. Validity of the scale was assessed by the analyses of language, surface, content and construct validity. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory confirmatory factor analysis and known-groups validity. Reliability was assessed by item analysis relying on item-total correlation parameter, internal consistency analysis and test-retest reliability.

It was ascertained that the factor loads ranged from 0.541 to 0.795 in exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the scale had a fine goodness of fit with a single-factor structure. When the known groups were compared according to total average score of the scale, it was found that the difference between nursing students and adolescents included in the study was significant (p<0.000) and that the effect size was large (Cohens’ d=0.61). Cronbach alpha value of the scale was determined as 0.850. As a result of the test-retest reliability analysis of the scale, the intra-class correlation coefficient was found to have a statistically significant and strong positive correlation (r=0.902, p<0.001). The item-total correlation parameters of all the items of the scale ranged from 0.396 to 0.686.

When the results of our study were considered, Turkish version of the MHPK was found to be valid and reliable.