Evidence for the Psychometric Validity, Internal Consistency and Measurement Invariance of Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale Scores in Scottish and Irish Adolescents. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McKay, Michael T.; Andretta, James R.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 255(2017)
• Page Start: 382
• Page End: 386
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: WEMWBS -- Mental well-being -- Adolescent -- Scotland -- Northern Ireland; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.06.071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Mental well-being is an important indicator of current, but also the future health of adolescents. The 14-item Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) has been well validated in adults world-wide, but less work has been undertaken to examine the psychometric validity and internal consistency of WEMWBS scores in adolescents. In particular, little research has examined scores on the short 7-item version of the WEMWBS. The present study used two large samples of school children in Scotland and Northern Ireland and found that for both forms of the WEMWBS, scores were psychometrically valid, internally consistent, factor saturated, and measurement invariant by country. Using the WEMWBS full form, males reported significantly higher scores than females, and Northern Irish adolescents reported significantly higher scores than their Scottish counterparts. Last, the lowest overall levels of well-being were observed among Scottish females. Highlights: WEMWBS scores were examined in Scottish and Northern Irish adolescents. Scores were psychometrically valid, internally consistent and generally invariant. Both the WEMWBS full and short forms performed well. Adolescents in Northern Ireland reported higher well-being than those in Scotland. Well-being may be related to both place of residence and gender.