Health Rep. 2026 Mar 18;37(3):15-27. doi: 10.25318/82-003-x202600300002-eng.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The accurate monitoring of population mental health requires repeated assessments using valid and reliable measures. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) and its short form (SWEMWBS) are widely used positive mental health (PMH) measures ([S]WEMWBS is used hereafter to refer to both). This study tested their validity among Canadian adults using representative health survey data.
DATA AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2024 Canadian Community Health Survey – Rapid Response on Sleep Quality and Positive Mental Health of adults (18 years and older) living in the provinces were used. The distributions of (S)WEMWBS responses and scores were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) were conducted to assess factorial validity. Measurement invariance was tested across gender and age. Differences in (S)WEMWBS scores by gender, age, and other mental health indicators were examined. Cronbach’s alphas were used to investigate internal consistency.
RESULTS: (S)WEMWBS scores had relatively normal distributions, with no floor and minimal ceiling effects. A bifactor ESEM and bifactor CFA model for the WEMWBS and SWEMWBS, respectively, fit the data best, with indices suggesting that they were essentially unidimensional. Evidence was found for measurement invariance across gender and age. Older adults had higher (S)WEMWBS scores on average, as did men on the WEMWBS. The (S)WEMWBS had acceptable internal consistency and were associated with other mental health indicators.
INTERPRETATION: The (S)WEMWBS appear to be valid and reliable PMH measures for Canadian adults. The (S)WEMWBS could be regularly included in health surveys to support the surveillance of population-level changes in PMH.
PMID:41849617 | DOI:10.25318/82-003-x202600300002-eng
