ERIC Number: EJ1490110
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1866-2625
EISSN: EISSN-1866-2633
Available Date: 2025-01-25
Psychometric Evidence for the School Organizational Conditions for Mental Health Programming Measure: Assessing the Organizational Context for Implementing Evidence-Informed Programming in Ontario Schools
Nicole S. J. Dryburgh1,2,3; Li Wang1,2; Ruth Repchuck1,2; Alisha R. Matte1,2; Kevin Runions2,4,5; Katholiki Georgiades1,2
School Mental Health, v17 n3 p802-814 2025
Programming aimed at promoting positive student mental health and reducing or preventing mental-ill health is common within schools in Ontario. A brief, valid, and scalable measure was needed to assess the organizational conditions, or the capacity, readiness, and resources of schools to successfully implement and sustain this programming. In partnership with School Mental Health Ontario, an intermediary organization that facilitates uptake of student mental health programming in schools across the province, the objectives of the current study were to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the School Organizational Conditions for Mental Health Programming Measure for principals. An 18-item measure was completed by 623 principals across the province (from 35 school boards (i.e., districts); 79% elementary, 16% secondary, and 5% both elementary and secondary). A measure of mental health emergency readiness was used to assess convergent validity. Results from item response theory and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a final 14-item measure assessing four domains: (1) School Mental Health Leadership, (2) Engagement and Collaboration with External Partners, (3) Mental Health Strategy and Action Planning, and (4) Data-Informed Quality Improvement. The final measure demonstrated excellent internal consistency ([alpha]s = 0.83-0.91) and measurement invariance across elementary and secondary schools, and schools in urban and rural areas. Scores were positively associated but not redundant with mental health emergency readiness (rs = 0.31-0.42). The School Organizational Conditions for Mental Health Programming Measure is a brief measure that shows promising psychometric evidence for evaluating the organizational conditions of schools for supporting student mental health-related programming.
Descriptors: Psychometrics, Mental Health, Mental Health Programs, Program Implementation, Evidence Based Practice, Foreign Countries, Positive Behavior Supports, Emergency Programs, Readiness, Item Response Theory, Factor Analysis, Educational Environment, Organizational Culture, Measures (Individuals), Leadership, School Health Services
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1McMaster University, Offord Centre for Child Studies, Hamilton, Canada; 2McMaster University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Hamilton, Canada; 3Harvard University, Department of Psychology, Cambridge, MA, USA; 4School Mental Health Ontario, Hamilton, Canada; 5University of Western Australia, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia

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