Mental Health and Subjective Vitality in Arabic-Speaking North Africa: A Cross-Cultural Examination of the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form (MHC-SF)

This study aimed to assess the validity of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) as a measure of mental health among Arabic-speaking North African populations. The study had three objectives: (1) to evaluate the structural validity of the MHC-SF and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS); (2) to examine measurement invariance across gender and between Moroccan and Egyptian participants; and (3) to assess whether emotional, social, and psychological well-being dimensions predict subjective vitality. A total of 301 psychology students were recruited from Morocco and Egypt. Using CFA, a three-factor model for the MHC-SF demonstrated good structural validity and the SVS showed good fit, as well. Significant correlations between subjective vitality and mental health were observed, and the regression analysis revealed that mental health factors predicted subjective vitality. The findings support the use of the MHC-SF in Arabic-speaking populations and underscore the relevance of cultural context in assessing mental health.