Internal and external validity of the WHO Well-Being Scale in the elderly general population

The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the validity of the WHO W ell-Being Scale in elderly subjects and (ii) to assess the influence of dem ographic variables on subjective quality of life. A sample of 254 elderly s ubjects completed the 22-item WHO Well-Being Scale. The scale had an adequa te internal and external validity. However, the short 10-item and 5-item ve rsions were equally valid. Low scores indicating decreased well-being were related to the presence of a psychiatric disorder or, independently, to poo r living conditions. The Well-Being Scale and their short versions would ap pear to be useful instruments for identifying subjects with reduced subject ive quality of life.