Exploring the Relationship between the MHI-38 and the NEO-FFI-3 among Filipinos

This study looked at the relationship between the Mental Health Inventory-38 and the NEO-FFI-3 among Filipinos. The Mental Health Inventory-38 is intended as a broadband measure o f mental health and well-being. The NEO-FFI- 3 is intended as a brief version o f the NEO-PI-3, which describes personality in terms o f the Five Factor Model, namely Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Participants were 1040 Filipino citizens between 18 to 6 6 years old. Among the five factors, Neuroticism had the strongest negative association with mental health and Psychological Well-Being, while having the strongest positive association with Psychological Distress. Neuroticism also dominated correlations with the MHI-38 subscales. Correlations with Extraversion were modest in comparison for both the MHI-38 global indices and subscales. Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness are poorly represented in the MHI-38. The pattern o f correlations calls the validity o f some MHI-38 constructs into question.