Psychometric Validation of The Healthy Lifestyle Scale for Mongolian University Students: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: University students are in a crucial transition stage to adulthood and experience various changes during the university period. Lifestyle during this period can positively and negatively impact their health for the rest of their life. Currently, there is yet to be validated instrument to measure the lifestyle of university students in the Mongolian context. The main objective of this study was to assess the reliability and validate the Mongolian version of the Healthy Lifestyle Scale of University Students (HLSUS) using a factor analysis among Mongolian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 369 undergraduate students (66.7% women and 33.3% men) randomly selected from three universities, including different departments in Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia. Construct validities were examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) for eight component factor-structure. Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α. Results: The findings of construct validity were supported by the EFA and CFA. Based on the EFA result, five items were removed, and the eight factors confirmed the original structure of the questionnaire. The overall Cronbach's α resulted above .70 (α=.87). The CFA examination model with eight factors and 33 items indicated a good-fit-indices: Comparative Fit Indices (CFI)=.93, Tucker-Index (TLI)=.92, Goodness Fit Index (GFI)=.94, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA)=.057. Conclusion: The Mongolian version of the HLSUS demonstrated initial reliability and construct validity with eight subscales of healthy lifestyle outcomes and 33 items.