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Further Validation of the General Psychological Well-Being Scale Among a Setswana-Speaking Group

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Well-Being Research in South Africa

Part of the book series: Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology ((CAPP,volume 4))

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the reliability and validity of the General Psychological Well-being Scale (GPWS) in an African context. The study also explored the contextual manifestation of the construct general psychological well-being (GPW) in a Setswana-speaking adult sample. General psychological well-being is an empirically derived construct that encompasses an integration of multiple facets of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. The GPWS is a 20-item self-report instrument through which GPW is operationalized. Its psychometric properties were explored using Classical Test Theory (CTT), Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and Item Response Theory (IRT) approaches. A sample of 1,275 participants completed a battery of scales, including the GPWS, in a cross-sectional survey. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, descriptive statistics, factor analyses, a t-test group comparison, analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression analyses, fit indices, item difficulty estimates, and interscale correlations were computed. The findings indicate that the GPWS is a reliable measure, with a multifaceted hierarchically organized factor structure, and that it is differentially influenced by socioenvironmental factors. Recommendations regarding the further refinement of the GPWS as an optimal measure of general psychological well-being are offered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Psychotherapy and Counselling, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Itumeleng P. Khumalo

  2. School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Q. Michael Temane

  3. School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences and The Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    Marié P. Wissing

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  1. Itumeleng P. Khumalo
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  2. Q. Michael Temane
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  3. Marié P. Wissing
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Correspondence to Itumeleng P. Khumalo .

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  1. The Africa Unit for Transdis. Health, Research, North-West University:, School of Psychosoc. Behav. Scs. and, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa

    Marié P. Wissing

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Khumalo, I.P., Temane, Q.M., Wissing, M.P. (2013). Further Validation of the General Psychological Well-Being Scale Among a Setswana-Speaking Group. In: Wissing, M. (eds) Well-Being Research in South Africa. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6368-5_10

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