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Internal and external validity of the WHO Well‐Being Scale in the elderly general population
Author(s) -
Heun R.,
Burkart M.,
Maier W.,
Bech P.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb00973.x
Subject(s) - scale (ratio) , external validity , psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , population , internal validity , clinical psychology , psychometrics , gerontology , medicine , social psychology , environmental health , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the validity of the WHO Well‐Being Scale in elderly subjects and (ii) to assess the influence of demographic variables on subjective quality of life. A sample of 254 elderly subjects completed the 22‐item WHO Well‐Being Scale. The scale had an adequate internal and external validity. However, the short 10‐item and 5‐item versions were equally valid. Low scores indicating decreased well‐being were related to the presence of a psychiatric disorder or, independently, to poor living conditions. The Well‐Being Scale and their short versions would appear to be useful instruments for identifying subjects with reduced subjective quality of life.