The bi-factor structure and measurement invariance of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (mhc-sf): Validation and cutoff scores in the Philippines

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Filipino adaptation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). Using data from 12,931 community members, we examined the scale’s factor structure, measurement invariance, reliability, and validity, and established empirical cutoff scores. Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis revealed that a bi-factor structure outperformed alternative factor structures, with acceptable to excellent internal consistencies (α = 0.77–0.92) found across emotional, social, psychological, and general well-being dimensions. Multi-group analyses confirmed configural, metric, and scalar measurement invariance across gender, age, and geographic location. Convergent validity was evidenced through meaningful associations with anxiety, locus-of-hope, and family support. The scale’s classifications revealed 9% languishing, 49% moderate, and 42% flourishing well-being in the sample. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis established optimal cutoff scores of ≤ 23 for languishing and ≥ 47 for flourishing well-being; MHC-SF scores ranging from 24 to 46 are moderate well-being. This psychometric evaluation demonstrates that the Filipino MHC-SF is a valid and reliable tool for assessing multidimensional well-being in non-Western contexts, with practical applications for mental health monitoring. The findings advance cross-cultural measurement of positive mental health and provide empirically-derived thresholds that enhance the utility of test scores derived from the scale in research and community settings.