Reliability, Validity, and Rasch Analysis of the Marathi Translation of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale

A BSTRACT Background: The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) was designed to assess mental well-being. However, the lack of a validated Marathi version of the WEMWBS limits the ability to measure mental well-being in the Marathi-speaking population. Aim: To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Marathi version of the WEMWBS. Materials and Methods: The Marathi version of the WEMWBS was prepared using the translation-back-translation methodology specified by the World Health Organization. This version was tested on thirty participants who provided feedback on difficulties understanding the scale’s items. After the necessary revisions were made, the final version was created. The study included participants who were conversant in both English and Marathi, selected through purposive sampling. Initially, they were administered alternately: the English WEMWBS, the Marathi translation, and the sociodemographic proforma. Fourteen days later, those who initially received the Marathi translation filled the English scale and vice versa. Results: The study sample included 141 subjects. The scores on the English version of the WEMWBS showed a significant positive correlation with those of the Marathi translation. Participants found the Marathi version easy to understand. The translated version demonstrated acceptable split-half reliability and strong internal consistency. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation revealed a single-factor structure, which was further supported by confirmatory factor analysis. Rasch analysis supported item-level functioning, although one item (Item M4) showed misfit statistics. Conclusion: The Marathi translation of the WEMWBS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the mental well-being of Marathi-speaking populations.