2019, Volume 15

Reliability of the Mental and Social Health (M&SH) Questionnaire – test-retest adult men and women

Robert Bąk¹, Bartłomiej Jan Barczyński², Leon Andrzej Krzemieniecki<sup>3

1</sup>College of Medical Sciences Institute of Physical Culture Studies, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
²4 Medicine Rek PLL | Archives of Budo, Warsaw, Poland
³EKO-AGRO-FITNESS Prof. Roman M. Kalina, Piwniczna-Zdrój, Poland


Author for correspondence: Bartłomiej Jan Barczyński; 4 Medicine Rek PLL | Archives of Budo, Warsaw, Poland; email: b.barczynski@4medicine.pl

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Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Estimation of mental health and even more so of social health, in a simple but reliable manner in particular, is one of the most difficult methodological challenges. In our opinion, the authors of M&SH Questionnaire have been equal to this challenge The purpose of the work is to empirically verify the reliability of the M&SH Questionnaire.

Material and Methods: The M&SH Questionnaire consists of 12 statements (or questions) informing about hypothetical situations with the respondent participation. Mental health (MH Index) is estimated based on six statements: aggressiveness (arithmetic mean of the result of 2 descriptive/verbal simulations); one sense of fear; one stress coping skills; tolerance (arithmetic mean of the result of 2 simulations). Social health (SH Index) based on: respecting “fair play” rules (arithmetic mean of the result of 2 descriptive/verbal simulations); respecting supreme values ((arithmetic mean of the result of 3 simulations); responsibility (one simulation). The result of each respondent’s declaration is based on five-point scale (conventional points, which simplifies statistical analysis): 5 (declared answer indicates a very high level of mental and/or social development); 1 (the opposite of such a conclusion); 4, 3, 2 remain in the middle. The test-retest method was used 14 days apart.

Thirty-one adults (21 females, 10 males) aged 26.48 ±3.17 years old, who study extramural humanities and social studies, were tested.

Results: The M&SH Questionnaire reliability confirmed the following very highest and highest correlations (test ÷ re-test) of empirical indicators: r = 0.902 for kindness; r = 0.858 for aggressiveness (when the simulated attack is directed at the respondent); r = 0.853 for sense of fear; r = 0.815 for stress coping skills; r = 0.803 for responsibility; r = 0.797 for RSV Index of M&SH. Mental health profiles are highly correlated between test re-test (r = 0.772) and also social health r = 0.770.

Conclusions: The test-retest results are empirical evidence that the M&SH questionnaire meets the methodological criteria of the tool intended for simulation tests. The recommendation of M&SH for research on youth (from 16 years old) and adults is justified, especially as part of the application the Profile of Sense of Positive Health and Survival Abilities (SPHSA).

Key words: Delphi method, simulation tests, quasi-apparatus test, non-apparatus test