Exploring the invariance of the Wellbeing Literacy 6-item (Well-Lit 6) Scale between Brazilian and French-Canadian populations

Abstract | Introduction/Objective: Wellbeing literacy refers to the ability to understand, communicate, and apply knowledge related to wellbeing. In a global context marked by increasing mental health challenges and social inequalities, measuring wellbeing literacy has become essential for identifying needs, guiding public policies, and developing effective interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the invariance of the Wellbeing Literacy 6-item (Well-Lit 6) Scale at the configural, metric, and scalar levels according to nationality and gender. Method: The Brazilian sample consisted of 323 participants aged between 18 and 67 years (M = 27.9, SD = 10.8), of different genders (58.8% cisgender women), while the French-Canadian sample included 1,134 participants aged between 18 and 64 years (M = 40.2, SD = 12.2), also of different genders (66.8% cisgender women). Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Well-Lit 6 Scale. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was employed to assess measurement invariance across nationality and gender. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis results indicate that the unidimensional model is equivalent across both Brazilian and French-Canadian samples, as well as across gender groups, as the model fit indices were not negatively impacted by the imposed constraints. Conclusions: These findings support the cross-cultural validity of the Well-Lit 6 Scale, demonstrating its appropriateness for assessing wellbeing literacy in diverse populations. The invariance properties of the instrument reinforce its value for comparative research and practical application in multicultural contexts.