Validation of the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale in an Irish Sample

This study aimed to validate the Stirling Children’s Well-being Scale (SCWBS) for use in the Republic of Ireland by examining its factor structure, validity, reliability, and responsiveness to change using a data set from 598 children aged 8–13 years. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the second-order, two-factor structure of the SCWBS as an excellent fit for the sample, with no evidence of measurement invariance in terms of gender. The scale demonstrated robust internal consistency and composite reliability (α and ω = 0.80-0.90), and adequate construct validity, with positive associations with the Feeling Better Scale (FBS; r = .16-0.30) which assesses state well-being, and negative associations with the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS; r = − .41-0.50). The scale demonstrated high responsiveness to changes in the domains of positive emotional state (SRM = 1.18) and overall well-being (SRM = 0.77). However, test-retest reliability of the SCWBS over a 10-week period was poor (ICC = 0.35-0.38). Demographic variables were found to have minimal influence on children’s well-being. Findings indicated that the SCWBS is a valid and reliable measure of child well-being at a single time point in Ireland. Future research should include a socio-economically balanced sample and investigate convergent validity using established measures of trait well-being. Further investigation into the test-retest reliability and responsiveness to change of the SCWBS is warranted.