Abstract
Introduction
Universal screening using measures of mental health symptoms is discounted by UK schools due to stakeholder concerns. This is a preliminary study of the psychometric properties of a new Brief Positive School Experiences (B-PSEs) scale, devised to assess associations between cumulative positive school experiences (PSEs) and adolescent mental health as part of a PhD project that explored PSEs count as a potential proxy measure of adolescent mental health risk.
Methods
Five teachers developed a brief 19-item PSEs measure. 460 adolescents (aged 14–16) completed a survey based on these items and items measuring mental health (N = 460). Exploratory factor analysis and measures of internal consistency assessed the scale’s preliminary psychometric properties.
Results
The B-PSEs scale demonstrated a three-factor structure; (1) Coping with school demands; (2) School belonging, safety and support; and (3) Equity and low social adversity. Composite reliability was measured at 0.91.
Conclusion
The B-PSEs scale is a reliable measure with a robust factor structure and PSEs scores measured using the scale have demonstrated associations with adolescent mental health outcomes.
Universal screening using measures of mental health symptoms is discounted by UK schools due to stakeholder concerns. This is a preliminary study of the psychometric properties of a new Brief Positive School Experiences (B-PSEs) scale, devised to assess associations between cumulative positive school experiences (PSEs) and adolescent mental health as part of a PhD project that explored PSEs count as a potential proxy measure of adolescent mental health risk.
Methods
Five teachers developed a brief 19-item PSEs measure. 460 adolescents (aged 14–16) completed a survey based on these items and items measuring mental health (N = 460). Exploratory factor analysis and measures of internal consistency assessed the scale’s preliminary psychometric properties.
Results
The B-PSEs scale demonstrated a three-factor structure; (1) Coping with school demands; (2) School belonging, safety and support; and (3) Equity and low social adversity. Composite reliability was measured at 0.91.
Conclusion
The B-PSEs scale is a reliable measure with a robust factor structure and PSEs scores measured using the scale have demonstrated associations with adolescent mental health outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry |
| Early online date | 04 Jul 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Early online date - 04 Jul 2025 |
Keywords
- psychometric investigation
- positive school experiences
- mental health symptoms
Access to Document
- A preliminary psychometric investigation of a brief positive school experiences scale
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