ORIGINAL RESEARCH Adaptation of the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38) for Adolescents - Indonesian Version Abes Chrismayanti Parombean 1 , Fitri Ariyanti Abidin 2, 3 , Laila Qodariah 2, 3 , Shally Novita 4 1 Postgraduate Professional Psychology Study Programme, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 3 Center for Family Life and Parenting Studies, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia; 4 Center for Innovations and Psychological Research, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia Correspondence: Abes Chrismayanti Parombean, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl Raya Bandung-Sumedang Km. 2, Sumedang, 45363, Indonesia, Tel +62 812 7892 3493, Email abes21001@mail.unpad.ac.id Objective: This study validates the Indonesian version of the Mental Health Inventory-38 (MHI-38) for use among Indonesian adolescents. The adaptation process followed guidelines from the International Test Commission and involved translation, expert review, cognitive interviews, and psychometric evaluation. A total of 562 adolescents (mean age = 15.42, SD = 1.84) participated in the study. Results: The MHI-38 demonstrated dual factors: psychological well-being and psychological distress. Internal consistency was high for the MHI-38 (α = 0.892) and its factors: psychological well-being (α = 0.894) and psychological distress (α = 0.952). Confrmatory factor analysis indicated a good ft (RMSEA = 0.048, CFI = 0.945, NFI = 0.908, TLI = 0.929). Psychological well-being correlated moderately with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (r = 0.469, p = 0.00) and positive affect (r = 0.448, p = 0.00), but negatively with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (r = −0.230, p = 0.00). Psychological distress correlated strongly with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (r = 0.910, p = 0.00) and negative affect (r = 0.857, p = 0.00), but negatively with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (r = 0.556, p = 0.00). Conclusion: The Indonesian version of the MHI-38 demonstrated good psychometric properties and validity, making it a reliable tool for assessing mental health in Indonesian adolescents. Keywords: adolescents, mental health, psychological well-being, psychological distress, psychometric properties, validation Introduction Mental health in adolescents poses a signifcant challenge, especially in developing countries like Indonesia. However, the existing body of research on mental health assessment primarily originates from developed countries. 1 Insuffcient attention has been given to investigating adolescents’ mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), leading to a dearth of data in this area. One potential factor contributing to the limited research in this area is the lack of attention given to the distinct mental health needs of children and adolescents, which differ from those of adults. This lack of attention is particularly evident in the insuffcient availability of mental health professionals and dedicated facilities specifcally tailored to meet the needs of children and adolescents in many LMICs. The lack of specialized training among mental health professionals hampers their ability to provide effective services to this population. Additionally, children and adolescents are often perceived as having limited infuence in politics and economics. As a result, their mental health needs are more likely to be overlooked than adult patients with mental disorders. 2 It is crucial to develop diagnostic and assessment tools that consider specifc regions’ unique cultural and social contexts. Tools developed in developed countries may not adequately address the cultural nuances prevalent in developing nations, thereby hampering the accurate identifcation and measurement of adolescent mental health issues. In recent years, mental health problems among Indonesian adolescents have increased. 3 A study by the Indonesian Psychiatric Association in 2020 found that 27% of Indonesian adolescents aged 13–18 reported experiencing mental health issues, with depression and anxiety being the most common concerns. 4 Various factors contribute to mental health problems among Indonesian adolescents, including academic pressure, 5 social media use, 6 family conficts, 7 and exposure to violence and trauma. 8 Moreover, the stigma and lack of awareness around mental health issues may prevent Psychology Research and Behavior Management 2023:16 2655–2665 2655 © 2023 Parombean et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/ terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). Psychology Research and Behavior Management Dovepress open access to scientific and medical research Open Access Full Text Article Received: 14 April 2023 Accepted: 6 July 2023 Published: 13 July 2023 Psychology Research and Behavior Management downloaded from https://www.dovepress.com/ on 04-Sep-2023 For personal use only.