THE AMHARIC VERSION OF THE WARWICK-EDINBURGH MENTAL WELL-BEING SCALE: THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND FACTOR STRUCTURE

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to assess the psychometric evidence and factor structure of the Amharic version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) for use in Ethiopia, addressing the theoretical, cultural, and empirical limitations encountered by the English version.

Method: This study utilized a cross-sectional design and collected data from 474 individuals selected from the general population through stratified sampling. The participants included bankers, merchants, laborers, and employees from government institutions. The data were analyzed via SPSS 27 and AMOS 23. Internal consistency reliability and temporal reliability were assessed via Cronbach’s alpha and the test‒retest method, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to identify the factor structure of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to test whether the observed items accurately loaded onto mental well-being (MW), providing model fitness to ensure theoretical expectations and empirical evidence. Additionally, CFA also provides average variance extracted (AVE) to evaluate discriminant and convergent validity.

Results: The scale exhibited internal consistency (r=0.87) and temporal reliability (r=0.89). The EFA revealed a three-factor structure for the WEMWBS-Amharic, comprising 1: Spiritual, 2: Eudaimonic, and 3: Hedonic factors, which accounted for 52.365% of the total variance. The scale retained 21 out of 24 items. CFA validated the structural integrity of the factors within the WEMWBS-Amharic, with indices showing CMIN/DF = 2.088; RMSEA = 0.048; and GFI, AGFI, NFI, RFI, IFI, TLI, and CFI all exceeding 0.90. Both convergent validity (AVE = 0.51 to 0.55) and discriminant validity (√AVE > correlation matrix) were established. The participants demonstrated moderately low levels of social desirability compared with those observed in the original WEMWBS.

 Conclusion: The WEMWBS-Amharic has shown an acceptable level of validity and reliability for application in Ethiopia. Future research should include individuals from refugee populations and special groups, such as those with hearing and visual impairments, patients, students, and communities affected by conflict.

Keywords: Mental well-being, validity, reliability, spiritual well-being