Peer-reviewed article
Filling the 8-Year-Old Gap in the Study of Well-Being: Cross-Cultural Assessment and Validation of a Subjective Well-Being Measure Across 19 Countries
Ana Blasco-Belled, Mònica González-Carrasco, Ferran Casas ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5The study tests whether a six-item subjective well-being scale (the Children's Worlds scale for 8-year-olds) works across cultures. It uses data from 20,822 8-year-olds in 19 countries. Statistical analysis showed the scale fitted the data adequately and gave comparable results across countries, except when Chile was included. The authors conclude the scale can be used with 8-year-olds in both eastern and western countries.
Key points
- Research on child well-being in children under 10 years old is limited.
- The sample was 20,822 8-year-olds across 19 countries.
- Confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate fit after structural equation modelling.
- Scalar invariance across countries was supported only when Chile was excluded.
- Scores on the scale were predicted by life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect, supporting convergent validity.
Limitations
Only the abstract is available, so the list of the 19 countries, the specific fit statistics and the reasons Chile did not meet invariance are not stated. The study validates a measurement scale and does not tell us about causes of well-being or the effects of any intervention.
Abstract
Abstract Research on child well-being under 10 years old is limited. A first step towards stimulating research targeting this population is the validation of psychometric scales across cultures. The current study examines the cross-cultural validity of the Children’s Worlds - Subjective Well-being Scale (CS-SWBS-8-year-old version), a six-item subjective well-being scale in an international sample of 8-year-olds (N = 20,822) across 19 countries. A confirmatory factor analysis of the CW-SWBS-8yo showed adequate fit after structural equation modelling. Multi-group analysis supported scalar invariance when one of the countries (Chile) was not included in the model. When testing convergent validity, results suggested that the CW-SWBS-8yo is predicted by life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. Overall, the findings support the use of the CW-SWBS-8yo in 8 year-olds in both eastern and western countries.