McMaster Health Index Questionnaire – MHIQ
A multi-dimensional self-report instrument designed to assess physical, emotional, and social functioning.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The McMaster Health Index Questionnaire – MHIQ was developed by L. W. Chambers, D. L. Sackett, C. H. Goldsmith (1976). It is designed to measure Health-related quality of life (physical, emotional, and social functioning). The scale is intended for use with Adults and clinical populations.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 61 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Physical Function, Emotional Function, Social Function, General Health.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Function | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,42 | 21 |
| Emotional Function | 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,44 | 19 |
| Social Function | 43,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61 | 18 |
| General Health | 39,40,41 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Yes / Agree / Good, 2 = No / Disagree / Poor.
The scale includes 32 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Functioning / Poor Health Status: 0 – 50
- High Functioning / Good Health Status: 51 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Varies by subscale (typically 0.50 to 0.90).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.