Measurement invariance of the Mental Health Continuum‐Short Form across US military veteran and civilian adults

Abstract

Objective Recent research has suggested that mental health is not only the absence of mental illness but includes aspects of well‐being. One common psychological assessment used to assess dimensions of well‐being is the Mental Health Continuum‐Short Form (MHC‐SF). The MHC‐SF is a 14‐item measure that assesses emotional, psychological, and social well‐being. The purpose of this study was to assess measurement invariance of the MHC‐SF across US military veterans and civilians. Method First, we examined the factor structure of the MHC‐SF separately for veterans (n = 418) and civilians (n = 411). We then conducted multiple group confirmatory factor analysis (MG‐CFA) to assess measurement invariance for the two groups. Results Findings suggested there were three latent factors representing emotional, social, and psychological well‐being. Results from MG‐CFA suggested that the MHC‐SF is invariant across veterans and civilians. Conclusion Researchers and practitioners can administer the MHC‐SF with both groups.