Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the structural and external validity of the recently developed Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being (QEWB), scrutinising the parcelling approach used by Waterman and colleagues to confirm the unidimensional structure of the scale.MethodA multicultural South African student sample (n = 325) was used. Parcel- and item-level confirmatory factor analysis and item-level exploratory factor analysis were conducted to explore the scale’s structural validity. External validity was examined via attenuation corrected correlations with scores on criterion measures.ResultsOn parcel-level a one-dimensional structure fitted well, but since the assumption of unidimensional parcels was violated, the use of parcelling was contra-indicated. Item-level analyses revealed a multidimensional factor structure. The scale showed good convergent and discriminant validity.ConclusionsThe QEWB shows potential for future use, given that the multidimensionality of the scale is acknowledged. Some items may need revision.
Highlights
Discourse about what constitutes psychosocial well-being is receiving extensive attention in current literature (e.g. Kashdan et al 2008)
QEWB Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) Confirmatory factor analysis, χ2 chi-square test statistic, df degrees of freedom, CFI comparative fit index, RMSEA root mean square error of approximation, 90% CI 90% confidence interval of the RMSEA
Analyses indicated a three-factor structure consisting of the dimensions of Sense of Purpose, Purposeful Personal Expressiveness, and Effortful Engagement, or a four-factor structure where the Purposeful Personal Expressiveness factor divided into Engagement in Rewarding Activities and Living from Beliefs factors
Summary
Discourse about what constitutes psychosocial well-being is receiving extensive attention in current literature (e.g. Kashdan et al 2008). Well-being was studied from a hedonic perspective with little attention to the eudaimonic view. The endeavour to study EWB depends on the development of high quality assessment measures for the evaluation of facets of EWB (Waterman et al 2010). The QEWB was developed as an operational definition of EWB and items that Waterman et al (2010) considered to be closely related to contemporary philosophical views on eudaimonia were included. The questionnaire included items from both the objective understanding of eudaimonia (i.e., qualities associated with eudaimonic functioning, such as the pursuit of excellence and self-realisation) and from the subjective stance (i.e., subjective experiences of eudaimonia, such as feelings that one is engaged in activities that are personally expressive). The interrelated categories of self-discovery, perceived development of one’s best potentials, sense of purpose and meaning in life, investment of significant effort in pursuit of excellence, intense involvement in activities, and enjoyment of activities as personally expressive formed the basis for item formulation and content
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