Psychometric Analysis of the Swedish Translation of the WHO Well-Being Scales

Purpose The purpose of this study is to validate the Swedish translation of the WHO (Ten) and WHO (Five) Well-Being Questionnaires among three samples of Swedes. Methods Baseline data collected in 2008 from the Health Assets Project are the data source consisting of three cohorts of Swedes aged 19–64 years: (1) a randomized general population cohort (n = 4,027); (2) employees sick-listed reported by the employer (n = 3,310); and (3) self-certified sick-listed individuals (n = 498). The psychometric properties of the scales are assessed using factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, and examination of the relationship between scale scores and participants’ self-reported adverse health conditions. Results Factor analysis revealed a unidimensional factor structure for both scales, and Cronbach’s alphas are very good to excellent. The scales correlate in the expected direction with almost all of the adverse health conditions considered. Conclusions The Swedish translation of the WHO (Ten) and WHO (Five) Well-Being Questionnaires is psychometrically sound, but the first item of both scales has weaker psychometric qualities in comparison with other scale items