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. 2024 Feb 13:6:1257392.
doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1257392. eCollection 2024.

Measuring mental health action competencies in school teachers: internal and external validity evidence

Matthew J Kerry  1 , Dominik Robin  1 , Kurt Albermann  2 , Julia Dratva  1   3
Affiliations

Measuring mental health action competencies in school teachers: internal and external validity evidence

Matthew J Kerry et al. Front Digit Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health literacy is receiving increasing research attention due to growing concerns for mental health globally. Among children, teachers have recently been recognized as playing a vital role in the recognition and reporting of potential mental health issues.

Methods: A nationally sampled cross-section of teachers was surveyed to examine the discriminant validity of the mental health literacy measure across levels of teaching. A survey collected a total of n = 369 teacher responses in Switzerland (Kindergarten = 76, Primary = 210, Secondary = 83). Item response theory (IRT) analyses were conducted.

Results: Inspection of psychometric properties indicated removal of two weak performing items. The 15-item measure exhibited a significant mean difference, such that class-responsibility function scored higher (M = 2.86, SD = .45) than non-responsible function (M = 2.68, SD = .45) teachers [t(309) = -2.20, p = .01]. It also exhibited a significant mean difference, such that more subjective experienced scored higher (M = 2.86, SD = .45) than less subjective experienced (M = 2.68, SD = .45) teachers [t(210) = -8.66, p < .01].

Discussion: Hypotheses regarding age and role tenure were in the expected direction, but non-significant. The MHL measure for teachers demonstrated sound measurement properties supporting usage across teaching levels.

Keywords: adolescent health; bifactor; child health; health literacy; item response theory (IRT); mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scree plot of MHAC latent-factor structure. N = 369. Estimation = maximum likelihood.
Figure 2
Figure 2
N = 369. 95% confidence intervals displayed. Respblty = Responsibility.
Figure 3
Figure 3
N = 311. 95% confidence intervals displayed. Subj Exper = subjective experience.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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