Cross cultural adaptation of psychological wellbeing scale for Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah university students: A validity and reliability study

Psychological well-being (PWB) plays a crucial role in supporting student mental health and academic success. Ryffs multidimensional model of PWB has been widely applied, but its psychometric validity remains inconsistent across cultures, with limited evidence from Indonesian higher education. This study validated the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS) among Muhammadiyah and 'Aisyiyah Higher Education Institutions (PTMA) students. Using a cross-cultural adaptation procedure, the 42-item PWBS was administered to 341 students (aged 18-24). Construct validity was examined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The initial CFA model showed poor fit (χ2 = 3737.218, RMSEA = 0.104, CFI = 0.841). After respecification, the final model demonstrated excellent fit (χ2 = 236.793, RMSEA = 0.035, CFI = 0.996, NNFI = 0.994). Of the 42 items, only 22 reached the validity criterion (factor loading ≥ 0.50). Reliability analysis confirmed strong internal consistency (AVE ≥ 0.50, CR ≥ 0.70). The adapted 22-item PWBS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing student psychological well-being in Indonesian higher education and can inform research, policy, and mental health interventions.