Validating the Five-Item World Health Organization Well-Being Index

Mats Nylén-Eriksen (), Ann Kristin Bjørnnes, Hege Hafstad, Irene Lie, Ellen Karine Grov and Mariela Loreto Lara-Cabrera
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Mats Nylén-Eriksen: Institute of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Ann Kristin Bjørnnes: Institute of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Hege Hafstad: Vårres Regional User-Led Center Mid-Norway, 7010 Trondheim, Norway
Irene Lie: Center for Patient-Centered Heart and Lung Research, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
Ellen Karine Grov: Institute of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Mariela Loreto Lara-Cabrera: Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: Purpose: Research on the psychological well-being of caregivers of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) suggests that the well-being of parents and caregivers has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the psychological well-being of caregivers is a major concern, few validated well-being measures exist for caregivers of children diagnosed with ADHD. Therefore, a valid self-report scale is needed to assess well-being during the pandemic. The brief Five-Item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) has previously been used in studies on caregivers. However, its validity in this population remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the WHO-5 with caregivers of children with ADHD. Methods : A cross-sectional anonymous online survey was conducted in Norway. The study recruited caregivers from a community sample during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was carried out to investigate the construct validity by exploring the relationship between well-being, quality of life, social support, self-reported psychological distress, and perceived stress. Results : The findings of unidimensionality and high internal consistency, together with the results from the hypothesis testing, demonstrate the reliability and construct validity of the Norwegian version of the WHO-5 in this population. Conclusions: This study provides the first empirical evidence of the validity and reliability of the WHO-5 from a sample of Norwegian caregivers of children diagnosed with ADHD, with excellent reliability and construct validity. The scale can be used to systematize the measurement of well-being in caregivers because of its brevity and good psychometric properties, making it a valuable resource in research settings and assisting healthcare professionals in their crucial work of caring for caregivers.

Keywords: COVID-19; caregivers; psychological distress; psychometric properties; validity; well-being; WHO-5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11489-:d:913114

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