Extraction of the Components of a Mental Health Questionnaire Based on the World Health Organization’s Definition among University Students in Yasuj

Abstract

This study aimed to extract and determine the components and items of a mental health questionnaire based on the World Health Organization’s definition among university students in Yasuj. This applied study employed a descriptive survey design with an instrument-development approach. The target population consisted of students enrolled at universities in Yasuj during the 2024–2025 academic year. At the item-development and evaluation stage, 10 experts in psychology, mental health, counseling, and psychometrics were purposively selected. Based on the World Health Organization’s definition, relevant theoretical foundations, and previous studies, an initial pool of 70 items was developed. The content validity of the items was assessed using the content validity ratio and expert judgments, with 0.62 considered the minimum acceptable value. The Delphi method was subsequently conducted in two rounds, and items with mean ratings below 5 were deleted or revised. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was used to assess agreement among the experts. Content-validity analysis indicated that items with content validity ratios equal to or greater than 0.62 had acceptable necessity and conceptual relevance. During the two Delphi rounds, items with insufficient expert agreement were removed, and convergence among expert judgments increased. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance increased from 0.789 in the first round to 0.812 in the second round. The final questionnaire consisted of 48 items across 10 components: psychological well-being and life satisfaction, physical well-being, social well-being and sense of belonging, personal and academic growth, self-efficacy and perceived control, stress coping and resilience, academic performance and effective learning, performance of extracurricular activities, social participation, and low levels of disorder symptoms. The developed questionnaire represents student mental health as a multidimensional construct encompassing positive psychological, physical, social, and academic capacities as well as low levels of disabling symptoms. It may provide a suitable basis for assessment, screening, and the development of mental health promotion programs in university settings.