The warwick-edinburgh mental well-being scale (wemwbs): Performance in different cultural and geographical groups

Abstract

This chapter describes experience of using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) and the shortened version SWEMWBS, in different cultural settings. WEMWBS was created in the UK in the context of a need to monitor mental well-being at the population level. It comprises 14 positively worded items representing both hedonic and eudemonic aspects of well-being. It has proved popular in the UK and more widely in English- and non-English-speaking parts of the world. Qualitative and quantitative studies with two English-speaking minority ethnic groups resident in the UK (Pakistani and Chinese) suggest that the instrument is robust in different cultural settings. Validations of two translated versions one Italian and one Setswana (a common southern African language) in their countries of origin confirm that the scale is also robust outside the UK and in difference languages.