Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)

Abstract Background The important roles of well-being as realization of one’s true potential for healthy aging have been highlighted by literature of the recent decades. The Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB) are an internationally recognized measurement tool for psychological well-being. Yet...

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Main Authors: Ana N. Tibubos, Anna C. Reinwarth, Iris Reiner, Antonia M. Werner, Philipp S. Wild, Thomas Münzel, Jochem König, Karl J. Lackner, Norbert Pfeiffer, Manfred. E. Beutel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-025-00854-9
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author Ana N. Tibubos
Anna C. Reinwarth
Iris Reiner
Antonia M. Werner
Philipp S. Wild
Thomas Münzel
Jochem König
Karl J. Lackner
Norbert Pfeiffer
Manfred. E. Beutel
author_facet Ana N. Tibubos
Anna C. Reinwarth
Iris Reiner
Antonia M. Werner
Philipp S. Wild
Thomas Münzel
Jochem König
Karl J. Lackner
Norbert Pfeiffer
Manfred. E. Beutel
author_sort Ana N. Tibubos
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The important roles of well-being as realization of one’s true potential for healthy aging have been highlighted by literature of the recent decades. The Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB) are an internationally recognized measurement tool for psychological well-being. Yet, sound validation of the German SPWB 18-item version has been lacking to date. Therefore, the present study aims to (1) test the psychometric properties of the German SPWB 18-item version in terms of factorial validity and (2) determine construct validity by investigating its correlations with psychosocial variables, mental and physical health. (3) Sociodemographic characteristics of the SPWB in a middle to old age German population was explored. Methodology Data of N = 3,374 participants 45–85 years old of the 10-year follow-up (2017–2022) of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) were analyzed. Descriptive analyses and inference statistical analyses were performed to assess construct validity. In order to determine the psychometric properties, item characteristics and reliability coefficients were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analyses tested the proposed theoretical factorial structure. Results Construct validity of the SPWB was established with respect to sociodemographic, psychosocial (social support and resilient coping), and health variables (sleeping problems, depression and anxiety symptoms, stress, loneliness, and somatic diseases). Analysis of the psychometric properties of the German SPWB 18-item version rendered support for the theoretically proposed multidimensional structure of psychological well-being in our sample rather than a one factorial structure. Bi-factor models that take the method effects of positively and negatively formulated items into account are highly recommended. Conclusions The German SPWB 18-item version shows comparable psychometric properties to previous large-scale studies from other countries. The SPWB provides psychological indicators for healthy aging.
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spelling doaj-art-1d3a2d51c5a3467fa5a2fe8f182a31e52025-08-20T03:16:55ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Patient-Reported Outcomes2509-80202025-02-019111110.1186/s41687-025-00854-9Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)Ana N. Tibubos0Anna C. Reinwarth1Iris Reiner2Antonia M. Werner3Philipp S. Wild4Thomas Münzel5Jochem König6Karl J. Lackner7Norbert Pfeiffer8Manfred. E. Beutel9Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzPreventive Cardiology and Preventive Medicine-Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzGerman Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-MainInstitute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzGerman Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-MainDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzAbstract Background The important roles of well-being as realization of one’s true potential for healthy aging have been highlighted by literature of the recent decades. The Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB) are an internationally recognized measurement tool for psychological well-being. Yet, sound validation of the German SPWB 18-item version has been lacking to date. Therefore, the present study aims to (1) test the psychometric properties of the German SPWB 18-item version in terms of factorial validity and (2) determine construct validity by investigating its correlations with psychosocial variables, mental and physical health. (3) Sociodemographic characteristics of the SPWB in a middle to old age German population was explored. Methodology Data of N = 3,374 participants 45–85 years old of the 10-year follow-up (2017–2022) of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) were analyzed. Descriptive analyses and inference statistical analyses were performed to assess construct validity. In order to determine the psychometric properties, item characteristics and reliability coefficients were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analyses tested the proposed theoretical factorial structure. Results Construct validity of the SPWB was established with respect to sociodemographic, psychosocial (social support and resilient coping), and health variables (sleeping problems, depression and anxiety symptoms, stress, loneliness, and somatic diseases). Analysis of the psychometric properties of the German SPWB 18-item version rendered support for the theoretically proposed multidimensional structure of psychological well-being in our sample rather than a one factorial structure. Bi-factor models that take the method effects of positively and negatively formulated items into account are highly recommended. Conclusions The German SPWB 18-item version shows comparable psychometric properties to previous large-scale studies from other countries. The SPWB provides psychological indicators for healthy aging.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-025-00854-9Eudaemonic well-beingScales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB)Ryff scalesPositive psychologyHealthy agingPsychometric properties
spellingShingle Ana N. Tibubos
Anna C. Reinwarth
Iris Reiner
Antonia M. Werner
Philipp S. Wild
Thomas Münzel
Jochem König
Karl J. Lackner
Norbert Pfeiffer
Manfred. E. Beutel
Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)
Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
Eudaemonic well-being
Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB)
Ryff scales
Positive psychology
Healthy aging
Psychometric properties
title Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)
title_full Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)
title_fullStr Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)
title_full_unstemmed Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)
title_short Psychological indicators for healthy aging: validation of the German short version of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being (SPWB)
title_sort psychological indicators for healthy aging validation of the german short version of ryff s scales of psychological well being spwb
topic Eudaemonic well-being
Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB)
Ryff scales
Positive psychology
Healthy aging
Psychometric properties
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-025-00854-9
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