Clarke, Aileen, Friede, Tim, Putz, Rebecca, Ashdown, Jacquie, Martin, Steven, Blake, Amy, Adi, Y., Parkinson, Jane, Flynn, Pamela, Platt, Stephen and Stewart-Brown, Sarah L. (2011) Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) : validated for teenage school students in England and Scotland : a mixed methods assessment. BMC Public Health, Vol.118 (No.1). p. 487. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-487

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Abstract

Background: Understanding and measuring mental health and wellbeing amongst teenagers has recently become
a priority. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is validated for measuring mental wellbeing
in populations aged 16 years and over in the UK. We report here a study designed to establish the validity and
reliability of WEMWBS in teenagers in the UK.
Methods: WEMWBS and comparator scales, together with socio-demographic information and self-reported health,
were incorporated into a self-administered questionnaire given to pupils aged 13 to 16 years in six schools in
Scotland and England. Psychometric properties including internal consistency, correlations with comparator scales,
test-retest stability and unidimensionality were investigated for WEMWBS. Twelve focus groups were undertaken to
assess acceptability and comprehensibility of WEMWBS and were taped, transcribed and analysed thematically.
Results: A total of 1,650 teenagers completed the questionnaire (response rate 80.8%). Mean WEMWBS score was
48.8 (SD 6.8; median 49). Response scores covered the full range (from 14 to 70). WEMWBS demonstrated strong
internal consistency and a high Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87 (95% CI (0.85-0.88), n = 1517). Measures of construct
validity gave values as predicted. The correlation coefficient for WEMWBS total score and psychological wellbeing
domain of the Kidscreen-27 was 0.59 (95% CI [0.55; 0.62]); for the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF)
was 0.65, 95% CI [0.62; 0.69]; and for the WHO (WHO-5) Well-being Index 0.57 (95% CI [0.53; 0.61]). The correlation
coefficient for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was -0.44 (95% CI [-0.49; -0.40]) and for the
12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) -0.45 (95% CI [-0.49; -0.40]). Test-retest reliability was acceptable
(Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.66 (95% CI [0.59; 0.72] n = 212)). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated
one underlying factor.
WEMWBS was significantly associated with the Family Affluence Score (WEMWBS increased with increasing
household socio-economic status) and had a positive association with the physical health dimension of the
Kidscreen-27, but was unrelated to age, gender or location/school. Eighty students took part in focus groups. In
general, although some students considered some items open to misunderstanding or misinterpretation, WEMWBS
was received positively and was considered comprehensible, and acceptable.
Conclusions: WEMWBS is a psychometrically strong population measure of mental wellbeing, and can be used for
this purpose in teenagers aged 13 and over.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Population, Evidence & Technologies (PET) > Warwick Evidence Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Teenagers -- Mental health -- Great Britain, Teenagers -- Mental health -- Research, Mental health surveys -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Public Health
Publisher:	BMC
ISSN:	1471-2458
Official Date:	21 June 2011
Dates:	Date Event 21 June 2011 Published
Date of first compliant deposit:	17 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access:	17 December 2015
Volume:	Vol.118
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	p. 487
DOI:	10.1186/1471-2458-11-487
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	NHS Health Scotland

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