Human mental health study is a topic of interest nowadays. Mental health matters should be observed within synergy of spirit, body and intelligence. Analysis of literature and Internet resources as well as our many years’ working in educational institutions definitely shows that students’ mental health tends to decline. Mentally sane person is able to establish psychical equilibrium, to adapt to social environment conditions, to labour, sporting and military activities. However, methodology for diagnostics and quantitative assessment of students’ mental health level is not represented to the full extent in available sources of information.

In our opinion, diagnostics and quantitative assessment of students’ mental health should include aspects of definition of mental health concept. However, mental health concept is complex as follows from its content. Mental health components comprise somatic, physical, biological, moral and social aspects. Mental health is connected with human psychosomatic habitude, group atmosphere, unawareness of psychological self-regulation methods, inability to switch in relation to situation etc. [1, 2, 3, 4].

Certain specifications of these aspects should be concerned at mental health assessment that makes such test development even more difficult. Diagnostics of large groups of people is impossible unless we could use simple and non-labourious tests that have metrological certification and do not take considerable time. Screening test determines strategy aimed at identifying poorly expressed psychological disorders in survey selection.

In accordance with definition and components we developed screening test for students’ mental health diagnostics. The test is designed as questionnaire that is based on specifications assessing certain aspects of mental health. Original test consisted of 70 statements (questions) that specified mental health either expressly or by implication. Basing on test statements surveyed students compared themselves with other people giving their assessment on a ten-point scale. Before filling in a questionnaire respondents received instruction on a proper work with the test. “Assess the level of your mental state that is relevant to your ordinary life. Mark one of the ten scale values with the circle. If mental state level for a statement is low then value is 1, 2, 3 points; if this level is medium then value is 4, 5, 6, 7 points; if this level is high then value is 8, 9, 10 points”.

Obtained assessments were processed within correlation analysis and were given educational scientific interpretation. This questionnaire was used to diagnose 135 male and female surveyed students (age 18-25) of physical education institutes and humanity institutes.

Integral components of mental health assessment were two indices, namely total points for all statements on a ten-point scale and definition of mental health concept.

By students’ mental health we mean integral characteristic of full value functioning of body systems (nervous, muscular system, cardiovascular, endocrine and other systems) that regulate psychic sphere of a person. Mental health is seen as state of psychic (mental) well-being that is marked by absence of mental phenomena or deviations, assures organism resistance to adverse factors of academic, labour, sporting activities and environment, and also provides adequate response of behaviour and coordinate functioning of mechanisms of mental state self-regulation [2].

Screening test is aimed at identifying the level of students’ mental health. The test assumed metrological certification to provide informative value, reliability, objectivity and equivalence. So, at a later stage we could offer objective standards of quantitative assessment of mental health.

Correlation analysis of individual assessment of statements with integral index of mental health and total points for all statements on a ten-point scale revealed statistically significant associations (P≤0,05-0,0001). The most prominent associations (P≤0,001-0,0001) are connected with five statements specified in table 1.

Table 1. Statements of mental health assessment

Calculation is made by summing up selected numbers in each of five scales. Calculation for fifth statement is reverse, e.g. value of corresponds with 10 points etc.

Table 2 represents assessment scale of students’ mental health. Range of average magnitudes includes values of average magnitude of statement ±0.67 of standard deviation (σ) including 50% survey selection. Ranges below average and above average include correspondingly 25% selection.

Table 2. Students’ mental health scale (points)

Thus, we developed screening test for express assessment meeting metrological requirements and scale of students’ mental health.

2. A.V. Eganov, V.S. Bykov. Mental health diagnostics of students of physical education institutes // Optimization of educational process in physical education institutes: proceedings of XXIII conference. – Chelyabinsk: the Ural State University of Physical Education, 2013. – p. 65-67.

3. N.N. Malyarchuk. Health culture of teaching staff: monograph. – Tyumen: Tyumen State University press, 2008. – p. 192.

4. A.G. Shchedrina. Healthy living: methodological, social, biologic, medical, psychological, educational, ecological aspects: monograph. – Novosibirsk: OOO «Alpha-Vista», 2007. – p. 144.