Reliability and validity assessment of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) for Chinese college students

Background In the context of intensifying labor market competition in the post-pandemic era, there is growing concern regarding the mental health of Chinese college students. This population, positioned at a critical stage of early adulthood, faces significant psychological pressures that influence not only individual development but also societal and national outcomes. Despite the importance of monitoring mental well-being in this group, there is a lack of validated assessment tools that are culturally adapted to the Chinese context. The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form is widely used internationally to evaluate positive mental health, yet it has not been systematically validated among Chinese college students. Methods This study aimed to revise and validate the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form for use with Chinese college students and to examine its structural stability across educational levels. A three-phase design was implemented using three independent samples. In Study 1 (N = 395), exploratory factor analysis was performed to refine the scale by removing poorly performing items. In Study 2 (N = 1,297), confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate structural validity, and internal consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity were assessed. In Study 3 (N = 1,774), measurement invariance was tested across gender, academic year, and educational type (undergraduate vs. junior college). Results The revised 12-item version of the scale demonstrated high internal consistency, robust factorial validity, and strong cross-group measurement equivalence. Two items from the original version, related to social contribution and group belonging, were removed due to inadequate psychometric performance. The final scale proved effective in assessing emotional, psychological, and social well-being among Chinese college students. Conclusions This study provides the first empirical validation of a culturally adapted mental health assessment tool for Chinese college students. The revised scale offers a practical and reliable instrument for use in psychological research, clinical screening, and educational policy design aimed at promoting mental well-being in higher education.