Open AccessConstruct validity and internal consistency of the revised Mental Health Literacy Scale in South African and Zambian contexts
Author(s) -
Korhonen Joonas,
Axelin Anna,
Katajisto Jouko,
Lahti Mari
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
nursing open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.55
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2054-1058
DOI - 10.1002/nop2.1132
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , construct validity , construct (python library) , scale (ratio) , psychology , internal consistency , population , mental health , variance (accounting) , social psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , psychometrics , geography , environmental health , computer science , cartography , psychiatry , programming language , accounting , business
Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the construct validity and internal consistency of the revised Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) in South Africa (SA) and Zambia. Design This cross‐sectional study was conducted between October 2018 and December 2019. Methods The study population comprised PHC workers ( n = 454) in five districts in SA and Zambia. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to explore the construct validity, and Cronbach's alpha was applied to measure the internal consistency of the MHLS. Results Cronbach's alpha values for three attributes were below the appropriate level, but the value was strong (0.804) for the whole scale. The study found nine components explaining ~59% of the total variance of variables. All MHLS items loaded to main attributes based on the theory of MHL. The results stated that the revised version of the MHLS is a construct valid instrument with strong internal consistency.