Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS)

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is a validated 14-item instrument designed to measure mental well-being in clinical and general…

Questions: 14
Duration: 5 min
Original title: WEMWBS — Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale
Adaptation: Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS)
Authors: Tennant, R., Hiller, L., Fishwick, R., Platt, S., Joseph, S., Weich, S., Parkinson, J., Secker, J., & Stewart-Brown, S.
Created: 2007

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is a validated 14-item instrument designed to measure mental well-being in clinical and general populations. Unlike symptom-focused scales that primarily screen for psychological deficits, the WEMWBS captures the presence of positive mental health, including hedonic aspects like cheerfulness and eudaimonic aspects such as purpose and functioning. Establishing these mental health foundations is essential for comprehensive and holistic care.

For clinicians, this instrument offers a robust, repeatable measure to evaluate a patient's baseline resilience and monitor subjective improvement throughout therapy. By highlighting areas where a person feels capable and connected, it naturally complements symptom-reduction efforts and helps patients clarify their broader valued domains. This shifts the therapeutic focus from merely alleviating distress to actively promoting flourishing.

Using the WEMWBS provides a clear, quantitative snapshot of psychological health. Because all items are phrased positively, the scale encourages patients to engage with their recovery constructively, a process that can be further enhanced by incorporating optimistic forecasting tools like the best possible self intervention.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

Overall score

40/ 70

A 14-item self-report questionnaire assessing positive mental well-being over the past two weeks. All items are positively worded and cover both hedonic aspects (pleasant emotions, optimism, relaxation, joy) and eudaimonic aspects (psychological functioning, meaning, interpersonal relationships, decision-making autonomy, self-esteem). Suitable for adolescents (aged 13 and older) and adults, in general or clinical populations, for screening, longitudinal monitoring, and the evaluation of psychosocial interventions. This is not a diagnostic tool.

1470

For information

Cut-off≤ 40High risk of depression

Cut-off derived from comparison with the CES-D; the scale is not a screening tool.

CORCView the study ↗

Scoring

Sum, total score from 14 to 70, each item is scored on a 5-point scale (from 1 to 5).

Where does this score rank in the population? (group medians, Scotland, n = 1749)— 40

Overall

Total sample

51 · n=1749

Sex

Men

52 · n=783

Women

51 · n=966

Age

16–24 years

53 · n=176

25–34 years

51 · n=245

35–44 years

51 · n=353

45–54 years

50 · n=306

55–64 years

52 · n=334

65–74 years

52 · n=274

75 years and older

51 · n=61

Perceived health

Very good

54 · n=563

Good

51 · n=753

Fair

47 · n=319

Poor

44 · n=84

Very poor

41 · n=29

Employment status

Employed

52 · n=968

Student

52 · n=82

Retired

51 · n=465

Unemployed

49 · n=154

Other

46 · n=79

Marital status

Single

51 · n=188

Married / in a relationship

52 · n=418

Widowed / divorced / separated

49 · n=155

Annual household income

Less than 5 000 £

48 · n=55

5 000 – 14 999 £

49 · n=198

15 000 – 29 999 £

53 · n=180

30 000 £ and above

51 · n=173

Housing

Homeowner (without mortgage)

52 · n=523

Homeowner (with mortgage)

52 · n=705

Tenant

50 · n=519

Age completed education

Before age 16

52 · n=228

16–18 years

50 · n=355

19 years and older

53 · n=181

Household social grade

55 · n=38

50 · n=84

51 · n=217

53 · n=193

50 · n=101

47 · n=124

1470

Medians (with 95% CI) of the Scottish population sample from the UK validation — each group's point is read in relation to the patient's vertical line. These are comparative reference points, not thresholds: the paper publishes no cut-offs.

Tennant et al. (2007)View the study ↗

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What the test measures

The WEMWBS captures a broad, unidimensional construct of mental well-being, integrating multiple facets of positive psychological functioning:

Positive affect: Experiencing feelings of optimism, cheerfulness, and relaxation.
Interpersonal relationships: Feeling loved, connected to others, and addressing any underlying loneliness or social withdrawal.
Cognitive functioning: Thinking clearly and being able to make autonomous decisions.
Self-perception: Maintaining confidence and feeling good about oneself.
Psychological functioning: Having energy to spare and effectively utilizing a coping strategies map to deal with problems well.

This instrument is intended for adolescents and adults (aged 13 and older) to assess their overall psychological flourishing.

When and why to use it

Clinicians integrate the WEMWBS into their practice to systematically evaluate and foster positive mental health alongside traditional symptom management:

Intake baseline: To assess the client's current level of resilience and psychological resources at the start of therapy.
Treatment planning: To identify specific domains of well-being that require attention, translating abstract aspirations into actionable SMART goals for the treatment plan.
Monitoring change: To track improvements in psychological flourishing over time, ensuring that interventions, such as promoting exercise for mental health, are yielding positive real-world benefits.
Long-term vision: To ensure the therapy aligns with the patient's overarching life direction, complementing exercises that help them articulate 10-year goals.

A validated WEMWBS score adds empirical weight to clinical impressions, offering a standardized metric of a patient's progress toward meaningful well-being and life satisfaction.

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The questions

Below are some statements about feelings and thoughts. Please tick the box that best describes your experience of each over the last 2 weeks.
1. I've been feeling optimistic about the future
This item evaluates the patient's sense of hope and positive anticipation regarding upcoming life events.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
2. I've been feeling useful
This item assesses the patient's perception of their own value, contribution, and sense of purpose.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
3. I've been feeling relaxed
This item measures the extent to which the patient experiences physical and mental calm.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
4. I've been feeling interested in other people
This item probes the patient's capacity for social curiosity and outward focus on others.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
5. I've had energy to spare
This item captures the presence of physical and psychological vitality beyond basic daily requirements.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
6. I've been dealing with problems well
This item evaluates the patient's perceived self-efficacy and resilience in the face of daily challenges.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
7. I've been thinking clearly
This item assesses subjective cognitive functioning and the absence of mental fog or confusion.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
8. I've been feeling good about myself
This item gauges the patient's level of self-esteem and positive self-regard.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
9. I've been feeling close to other people
This item measures the patient's subjective sense of social connectedness and relational intimacy.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
10. I've been feeling confident
This item explores the patient's self-assurance and belief in their own capabilities.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
11. I've been able to make up my own mind about things
This item captures the degree of autonomy and decisiveness the patient experiences.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
12. I've been feeling loved
This item evaluates the patient's perception of receiving affection and emotional support from others.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
13. I've been interested in new things
This item assesses openness to experience and active engagement with the world.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time
14. I've been feeling cheerful
This item measures the frequency of positive affect, specifically joy and lightheartedness.
- None of the time
- Rarely
- Some of the time
- Often
- All of the time