Validation and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) on a sample of students in Qatar

Abstract

The Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is a widely used tool to assess mental well-being and life satisfaction in various populations. However, the psychometric properties of the WEMWBS in Arabic-speaking populations have not been established. This study aimed to validate and assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the WEMWBS among adolescents. A rigorous translation process was conducted, and the scale was administered to 470 participants aged 13–18 years in Qatar. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency, and validity assessments. The results showed that the Arabic version of the WEMWBS had a unidimensional structure, with high factor loadings and good internal consistency. The findings suggest that the Arabic version of the WEMWBS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing mental well-being and life satisfaction among Arabic-speaking adolescents. These results can facilitate the use of the Arabic WEMWBS scale in different mental well-being studies that include Arabic-speaking populations.