The Mental Health Continuum by Keyes in Italian context: Mental Health and Mental Illness in the young, adults, and older people

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Giovanna Petrillo, Daniela Caso, Vincenza Capone
Publishing Year 2014 Issue 2014/2
Language Italian Pages 23 P. 159-181 File size 156 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2014-002010
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According to the Mental Health Continuum (MHC) by Keyes people are placed along a continuum that ranges from presence (Flourishing) to absence of well-being (Languishing). A lot of studies focused on MHC in adults and adolescents (Africans, Americans, Northern Europeans). The aims of this study were to test the applicability of the MHC by Keyes in the Italian context and to investigate the relationships between the Positive Mental Health and Mental Illness (Two Continua Model). 1.438 people, get involved in the research. They aged between 18 and 89 years (M = 47.12 years, SD = 19.9; combined into young, people in midlife, and older people) and equally divided by gender. Participants were administered a self-report questionnaire that included, in addition to the Italian Mental Health Continuum - Short Form, scales designed to detect psychosocial variables. The results showed that 31% of participants had a positive mental health (Flourishing), 11% of participants did not have positive mental health (Languishing) and the majority (58%) had moderate mental health. In line with previous studies, the Flourishing (and those who have moderate mental health) have low levels of psychological distress, they are not depressed and do not report psychological and physical symptoms. The study also highlights significant differences by gender and age. These findings support the validity of the MHC in Italian context. They provide a contribution to the development of health promotion programs for special target of population - women, the young and elderly - in which mental health is compromised.

Keywords: Mental Health Continuum, Positive Mental Health, Mental Illness, well-being, life span

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Giovanna Petrillo, Daniela Caso, Vincenza Capone, Un’applicazione del Mental Health Continuum di Keyes al contesto italiano: benessere e malessere in giovani, adulti e anziani in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 2/2014, pp 159-181, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2014-002010