REFRAMING POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH: THEORETICAL MODELS AND MEASUREMENT ADVANCES

Abstract

Background: Research on positive mental health has evolved from theoretical models introduced at the inception of the concept within the health field to the present day.

Methods: The study employed "positive mentality" and "health" as search criteria.

Results: Eighty-four per cent of the fifty-one reviewed studies adopted a quantitative approach. Additionally, eighty-four per cent of these studies were published in English and conducted between 2000 and 2014. The analysis identified five categories regarding the utilization of the concept of positive mental health: absence of illness as an indicator, Jahoda's model, development of the Lluch scale, use of well-being as a synonym, and recent interest in designing measurement scales.

Conclusion: The concept of positive mental health should not be seen as merely the opposite of mental disorder, the absence of illness, or the accumulation of personal characteristics. To promote mental health effectively, it is crucial to develop conceptual models that underpin a health promotion-focused approach.