Validity of the Mental Health Subscale of the SF-36 in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Overview

Journal Spinal Cord

Specialty Neurology

Date 2012 Apr 11

PMID 22487956

Citations 29

Authors

C M C van Leeuwen

L H V van der Woude

M W M Post

Affiliations

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Abstract

Study Design: Cross-sectional study 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Mental Health subscale (MHI-5) of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centres with specialised SCI units.

Methods: Possible floor and ceiling effects were assessed, and Cronbach's α coefficient was calculated to assess internal consistency. Concurrent and divergent validity were assessed using Spearman correlations between the MHI-5 and measures of life satisfaction, neuroticism, vitality, general health, functional independence, participation, lesion characteristics and demographics.

Results: There were no floor or ceiling effects, but the total MHI-5 score was slightly skewed (-1.15). Internal consistency was good (α=0.79). Concurrent validity was shown by significant Spearman correlations between the MHI-5 and life satisfaction (0.53), neuroticism (-0.55), vitality (0.53) and general health (0.37). Divergent validity was shown by weak and, in part, non-significant correlations between the MHI-5 and functional independence (0.09), participation (-0.28) and lesion characteristics (range -0.01-0.19).

Conclusion: The MHI-5 showed reliability and validity as a measure of mood in persons with SCI, and is a promising measurement instrument to assess mental health problems in this population.

Citing Articles

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The Effect of Mindset and Breathing Exercises on Physical and Mental Health in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury-A Pilot Feasibility Study.

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Relationships between cardiovascular disease risk, neuropathic pain, mental health, and autonomic function in chronic spinal cord injury.

Dorton M, Kramer J, Groot S, Post M, Claydon V Spinal Cord. 2023; 61(10):548-555.

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Socioeconomic Status, the Countries' Socioeconomic Development and Mental Health: Observational Evidence for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury from 22 Countries.

Fekete C, Tough H, Schedin Leiulfsrud A, Postma K, Bokel A, Tederko P Int J Public Health. 2022; 67:1604673.

PMID: 36531606 PMC: 9747630. DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604673.