Reliability and validity of the Chinese Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale in people living with dementia

Abstract

Abstract Background Supporting people living with dementia to live well with the condition has been promoted as a policy and practice priority. A valid measure of mental well-being can facilitate related research in the growing Chinese dementia population. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Chinese Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) in Chinese people living with dementia in Hong Kong. Methods A total of 162 people living with dementia completed the SWEMWBS. Factorial validity of the scale was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent and divergent validity were assessed by Spearman’s correlations with Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD), EQ-5D-5L, EQ VAS, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q; depression and anxiety items). Known-group validity was examined based on sex, age, and education level. Congeneric reliability was assessed by standardized factor loadings and error variances, while internal consistency by Cronbach’s alpha. Results The one-factor structure of SWEMWBS was confirmed (CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.996, RMSEA = 0.02). The scale had weak-to-moderate correlations with QoL-AD, EQ-5D-5L, EQ VAS, and NPI-Q Anxiety (r = − .025 to 0.42) but no correlation with NPI-Q Depression. Respondents who were younger, male, and had higher education levels reported higher levels of mental well-being. SWEMWBS showed good congeneric reliability (0.80) and internal consistency (0.80). Conclusions The Chinese SWEMWBS showed good validity and reliability for measuring mental well-being in the Chinese dementia population in Hong Kong. Known-group validity results indicate a potentially distinct pattern of well-being among people living with dementia.