Abstract
An increasing importance is being placed on mental health and wellbeing at individual and population levels. While there are several interventions that have been proposed to improve wellbeing, more evidence is needed to understand which aspects of wellbeing are most influential. This study aimed to identify key items that signal improvement of mental health and wellbeing. Using network analysis, we identified the most central items in the graph network estimated from the well-established Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Results were compared across four major UK cohorts comprising a total of 47,578 individuals: the Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network, the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, the Northern Ireland Health Survey, and the National Child Development Study. Regardless of gender, the three items most central in the network were related to positive self-perception and mood: 'I have been feeling good about myself'; 'I have been feeling confident'; and 'I have been feeling cheerful'. Results were consistent across all four cohorts. Positive self-perception and positive mood are central to psychological wellbeing. Psychotherapeutic and public mental health interventions might best promote psychological wellbeing by prioritising the improvement of self-esteem, self-confidence and cheerfulness. However, empirical testing of interventions using these key targets is needed.
Highlights
Mental health and wellbeing are becoming increasingly prominent in national and international health policy (World Health Organization, 2002, 2004; Department of Health and Social Care, 2011; Mehta et al, 2015)
We have used psychological network analysis to identify items central to the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), which we present as potentially optimal targets for interventions aiming to improve mental health and wellbeing
This study aimed to identify the central aspects of psychological wellbeing, which may be considered as important intervention targets
Summary
Several approaches have been suggested for improving mental health and wellbeing, including psychological therapies (Fava et al, 1998; Slade, 2010; Galante et al, 2017), school and workplace interventions (Jané-Llopis and Barry, 2005; Jané-Llopis et al, 2005; Knapp et al, 2011; Weare and Nind, 2011), improvement of housing and nutrition, reduction of substance misuse and prevention of violence (World Health Organization, 2004; Jané-Llopis et al, 2005) Despite their promise, many of these approaches have been criticised for their lack of supporting empirical evidence (Mehta et al, 2015). Empirical testing of interventions using these key targets is needed
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