Adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the short depression-happiness scale

Abstract

The Short Depression Happiness Scale (SDHS) was developed to simultaneously assess depression and happiness on the opposite ends of the emotional valence continuum. The present study aimed to investigate and further validate the factor structure of the SDHS in a convenience sample of a large Arabic-speaking community. As part of an online survey, participants (n = 656) completed the SDHS, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory. To independently perform exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the data were randomly split into two halves. The results of the EFA and CFA provided a one-factor solution as the satisfactory-fitting model for the scale (X2 = 43.39, df = 9, p < .001; CIMIN/DF = 4.82, CFI = .94, TLI = .91, RMSEA = .11, SRMR = .05). The convergent validity of the SDHS was confirmed via the relationships with life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, stress and personality traits (correlations ranged between .23 and − .72). The SDHS explained unique variance (Δr2 = ranged between .06 and .23%) in well-being indicators above and beyond the personality traits. The Arabic translation of the SDHS was consistent with the original solution that would facilitate the advancement of happiness research across cultures.