Psychology RootsRAND Mental Health Inventory
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About RAND Mental Health Inventory
Scale Name
RAND Mental Health Inventory
Author Details
RAND Corporation and John E. Ware
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The RAND Mental Health Inventory (MHI) is a comprehensive instrument designed to measure psychological distress and well-being in community and clinical populations. Developed by John E. Ware and colleagues at the RAND Corporation in 1979, the MHI was first implemented in the RAND Health Insurance Experiment as a standardized tool for evaluating the mental health of large population samples.
Unlike earlier screening measures, such as the Health Opinion Survey and the Langner Scale, the MHI moved beyond an exclusive focus on somatic symptoms of distress. Instead, it incorporated both negative affect (e.g., anxiety, depression, loss of control) and positive affect (e.g., cheerfulness, life satisfaction, emotional ties) to provide a balanced, multidimensional view of mental health.
The MHI consists of 38 items, with most scored on a 6-point Likert scale. These items are grouped into five subscales:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loss of behavioral/emotional control
- General positive affect
- Emotional ties
From these, two higher-order dimensions are derived: psychological distress and psychological well-being. A total MHI score may also be calculated, providing an overall indicator of mental health. The measure has proven valuable for population surveys, clinical trials, and health outcomes research.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a Copy: The MHI is available from the RAND Corporation’s official website and published research materials.
- Explain the Purpose: Inform participants that the questionnaire evaluates emotional well-being and distress during the past month.
- Provide Instructions: Respondents rate 38 items using Likert-type scales (ranging from frequency to intensity), covering anxiety, depression, emotional ties, and positive affect.
- Approximate Time: Takes 10–15 minutes to complete.
- Administer the Scale: Can be self-administered or interviewer-administered in research, clinical, or survey settings.
Reliability and Validity
The MHI demonstrates strong psychometric properties:
- Internal Consistency: Coefficients range from 0.83 to 0.92 for the five subscales, and 0.96 for the overall score, indicating excellent internal reliability.
- Test-Retest Reliability: In a one-year study with 3,525 respondents, coefficients ranged from 0.56 (depression) to 0.63 (anxiety); the overall score had a reliability of 0.64.
- Factorial validity: Confirmed a five-factor model grouped into two higher-order factors (distress vs. well-being).
- Construct validity: MHI scores correlate strongly with measures of life satisfaction (0.40–0.51) and moderately with life events (0.12–0.26).
- Criterion validity: Scores significantly predict mental health service utilization, distinguishing between individuals with and without severe emotional problems.
- Replications in populations such as cancer patients confirmed the five-factor structure, supporting its clinical relevance.
Available Versions
38-Items
Reference
Veit, C. T., & Ware, J. E. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 51(5), 730.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does the RAND Mental Health Inventory measure?
It measures both psychological distress (anxiety, depression, loss of control) and psychological well-being (positive affect, emotional ties).
Q2. Who can use the MHI?
It is widely used in population surveys, clinical trials, and health services research to evaluate mental health.
Q3. How long does it take to complete?
The full MHI takes 10–15 minutes.
Q4. Is the MHI reliable for clinical populations?
Yes. Studies have confirmed its reliability and validity across both general populations and clinical samples (e.g., cancer patients).
Q5. How is the MHI scored?
Scores can be calculated for five subscales, two higher-order domains (distress and well-being), and a total MHI score. Higher scores indicate greater psychological well-being.
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