Rethinking Well-Being in Terms of Affliction and Equanimity: Development of a Holistic Well-Being Scale

This study aimed to validate a self-report assessment instrument developed based on the affliction-equanimity model of holistic well-being. An expert panel developed a pool of items, which were tested through an online questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses were conducted. The analyses revealed seven factors related to affliction and equanimity and showed an adequate fit for the first-order seven-factor structure. The factors correlated in expected directions with measures of quality of life, mood, meaning of life, mindfulness, and hope. Results showed the 30-item Holistic Well-Being Scale had good psychometric properties and validity, and suggested its usefulness in future studies of holistic well-being.