Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS) – a validity and reliability study in the civil aviation sector in Turkey

Purpose The purpose of this study is to test the psychometric properties of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), which expresses an individual’s life satisfaction, motivation and happiness level, in a sample of Civil Aviation sector employees in Turkey. Another aim of the research is that the measurement tool can be applied in the aviation sector, which has an essential place in accidents and crashes. Design/methodology/approach In the adaptation phase of the WEMWBS, the statements were evaluated by experts using the translation and retranslation technique. Then, a pilot study was conducted with 30 people, and the final version was given to the scale. With the purposive sampling method, data were obtained online from two study groups between the ages of 20 and 60 (1st group: n = 210, 2nd group: n = 327). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach’s alpha reliability, composite reliability (CR) and average explained variance (AVE) values and criterion-related validity of the WEMWBS adaptation were analyzed using SPSS 24 and AMOS 27 programs. Findings The WEMWBS exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure. The factors explained 62.936% of the total variance. The factor structure was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis, CR, GFI, NFI, RFI, IFI, TLI and CFI values above 0.90 and acceptable RMR below 0.05 indicate good fit. To test the criterion-related validity of the WEMWBS, significant relationships were found with the Oxford scales of happiness ( p < 0.01; 0.498), happiness at work ( p < 0.01; 0.518), perceived stress ( p < 0.01; −0.392) and self-esteem ( p < 0.01; 0.366), and criterion-related validity was ensured. Cronbach’s alpha 0.921, CR and AVE values were found to be acceptable values, and convergent validity was achieved. As a result, the 2-dimensional structure of the scale was validated in the aviation sector sample. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations. First, the research is a cross-sectional study conducted in the aviation sector. The data were obtained from individuals working in Istanbul. Therefore, the generalization of the results obtained for the entire aviation sector is limited. In addition, the responses given by employees working in the sector where the surveys were collected may be biased. The data were collected using a survey method, and the researcher has no control over the research environment. Another study limitation is that individuals responded to the survey questions according to their perceptions. Practical implications The two-factor structure of the WEMWBS scale was validated in the aviation sample. Social implications The validation of WEMWBS in the field of organizational psychology and working individuals is expected to investigate the relationship of mental well-being of individuals with other variables in the organizational sense and to be beneficial to organizational outcomes and society. Originality/value The present study makes an important contribution to the field of organizational psychology and management by adapting the original version of WEMWBS from the service sector to the civil aviation sector sample in Turkey. In addition, the findings show that this scale has psychometric properties, is valid and reliable and can be used as a measurement tool to measure the mental well-being of working individuals.