Assessing Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescents: A New Multidimensional Instrument for Chilean School Students

Mónica Bravo-Sanzana; Oscar Terán-Mendoza; Rafael Miranda; Xavier Oriol; VARELA TORRES, JORGE JAVIER; Manuel Mieres-Chacaltana

doi:10.3390/su17219482

Assessing Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescents: A New Multidimensional Instrument for Chilean School Students

Journal

Sustainability

ISSN

2071-1050

Date Issued

2025-10-24

Author(s)

Mónica Bravo-Sanzana

Oscar Terán-Mendoza

Rafael Miranda

Xavier Oriol

VARELA TORRES, JORGE JAVIER

Facultad de Psicología

Manuel Mieres-Chacaltana

Type

journal-article

DOI

10.3390/su17219482

URL

https://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11683

URL Institutional Repository

https://hdl.handle.net/11447/10919

Abstract

Adolescent psychological well-being is a key component of social and educational sustainability. Strengthening well-being during the school years supports healthy development, academic engagement, and resilience to contemporary challenges. Within the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, fostering mental health and equity in education contributes to more inclusive, cohesive, and peaceful communities. This study aimed to develop and validate the Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adolescents in a Chilean school population. Drawing on Ryff’s multidimensional model, the scale included 32 items and was administered to 8638 high school students from all sixteen regions of Chile. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified a seven-factor structure in which self-acceptance was divided into two dimensions: one associated with self-esteem and achievement, and another with self-appreciation and body image. Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated that the seven-factor model achieved the best fit. The scale showed high internal consistency, adequate convergent validity, and measurement invariance. The Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adolescents is a psychometrically sound and culturally adapted instrument validated with Chilean adolescents in school contexts. Current evidence supports its use for research and applied assessment within Chilean educational settings.