PERMA Well-Being Model and Profiler: Arabic Translation and Validation Among the Saudi Adult Population

Background/Objective: Psychological scales hold significant importance, measuring cultural sensitivity, experiences, values, and emotional expressions while controlling individuals’ biases regarding certain cultures. Arabic is used in a widespread, predominantly Middle Eastern and North African region, but it has diverse expressive variations. Therefore, the value of translating and validating scales lies in their compatibility with cultural norms. This study focuses on measuring the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the widely used PERMA-Profiler to assess the general well-being of the Saudi adult population. Methods: Using stratified sampling, (N = 2927) Saudi adults were recruited via various electronic and social media. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis showed strong evidence of the instrument’s validity, confirming well-being as a single latent factor composed of five dimensions with an acceptable degree of reliability. The correlation coefficients indicate considerable internal consistency for numerous factors, including positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment, health, and happiness (α = 0.83, 0.79, 0.77, 0.84, 0.80, 0.69, 0.71), respectively. The Split-Half coefficient demonstrated significant reliability (0.87). Conclusions: The validity and reliability of the scale are supported, confirming that PERMA can be applied to measure the well-being of Saudi society. Furthermore, the Arabic version of PERMA can be utilized in counseling and psychotherapy practice as well as in research studies. It could be a helpful tool for exploring and preventing mental health issues and improving well-being within the community.