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Assessing Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescents: A New Multidimensional Instrument for Chilean School Students

Author

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  • Mónica Bravo-Sanzana

    (Núcleo Científico-Tecnológico en Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile)

  • Oscar Terán-Mendoza

    (Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4810469, Chile)

  • Rafael Miranda

    (Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain)

  • Xavier Oriol

    (Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain)

  • Jorge Varela

    (Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago de Chile 7610658, Chile)

  • Manuel Mieres-Chacaltana

    (Departamento de Diversidad y Educación Intercultural, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4810469, Chile)

Abstract

Adolescent psychological well-being is a key component of social and educational sustainability. Strengthening well-being during the school years supports healthy development, academic engagement, and resilience to contemporary challenges. Within the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, fostering mental health and equity in education contributes to more inclusive, cohesive, and peaceful communities. This study aimed to develop and validate the Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adolescents in a Chilean school population. Drawing on Ryff’s multidimensional model, the scale included 32 items and was administered to 8638 high school students from all sixteen regions of Chile. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified a seven-factor structure in which self-acceptance was divided into two dimensions: one associated with self-esteem and achievement, and another with self-appreciation and body image. Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated that the seven-factor model achieved the best fit. The scale showed high internal consistency, adequate convergent validity, and measurement invariance. The Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adolescents is a psychometrically sound and culturally adapted instrument validated with Chilean adolescents in school contexts. Current evidence supports its use for research and applied assessment within Chilean educational settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Mónica Bravo-Sanzana & Oscar Terán-Mendoza & Rafael Miranda & Xavier Oriol & Jorge Varela & Manuel Mieres-Chacaltana, 2025. "Assessing Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescents: A New Multidimensional Instrument for Chilean School Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:21:p:9482-:d:1779175
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jorge J. Varela & Marc A. Zimmerman & Allison M. Ryan & Sarah A. Stoddard & Justin E. Heinze & Jaime Alfaro, 2018. "Life Satisfaction, School Satisfaction, and School Violence: A Mediation Analysis for Chilean Adolescent Victims and Perpetrators," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(2), pages 487-505, April.
    2. Mónica Bravo-Sanzana & Ferran Casas & Matías E. Rodríguez-Rivas & Xavier Oriol & Jorge J. Varela & Rafael Miranda & Oscar Terán-Mendoza, 2025. "Instruments for Measuring Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being of Adolescents in the Latin American School Contexts: a Systematic Review," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 18(3), pages 955-1000, June.
    3. Ferran Casas & Jorge Sarriera & Jaime Alfaro & Mònica González & Lívia Bedin & Daniel Abs & Cristina Figuer & Boris Valdenegro, 2015. "Reconsidering Life Domains that Contribute to Subjective Well-Being Among Adolescents with Data from Three Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 491-513, April.
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