Development and Validation of a Well-being Scale Based on Nahj al-Balagha

This study aimed to develop and validate a well-being questionnaire based on the wisdom of Nahj al-Balagha.

The method of this research was descriptive. Accordingly, based on a predefined psychological well-being model, 74 items were formulated and approved by three experts from the Nahj al-Balagha field. The statistical population of this study included all adults aged 20 to 50 years, in Tehran. Using a simple sampling method, 200 people were selected as the study sample. Also, the reliability of the questionnaire was calculated through the Cronbach alpha coefficient. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed in two ways: validity and construct validity. The correlation of the questionnaire with the Ryff questionnaire was obtained for the validity of the questionnaire, and a confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the construct validity. 

The data were analyzed using the SPSS and Amos software. The results showed that the psychological well-being questionnaire had an appropriate internal consistency in the range of 0.62 to 0.85 for the subscales and 0.95 for the total scale. Also, the total score of the researcher-made questionnaire was significantly correlated with the Ryff 53-item questionnaire, using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Moreover, the fitness indices obtained from confirmatory factor analysis showed a proper construct validity for the scale; most of the items had a factor load of above 30. 

The questionnaire indicated good psychometric properties for assessing psychological well-being in Iranian society.