Structural and discriminant validity of the tripartite model of mental well-being: differential relationships with the big five traits

Abstract

Background: The tripartite model of mental well-being offers a comprehensive account of the nature of mental well-being. According to this model, mental well-being is composed of three distinct yet related dimensions of subjective (hedonic), psychological and social well-being.

Aims: The present study investigated the structural and discriminant validity of the three well-being factors.

Methods: A large American sample (N = 2732) was used. Data were analyzed using both Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM).

Results: It was found that the well-being variables loaded on three separate factors, indicating that the tripartite model was consistent with the data. Discriminant validity was further evidenced by moderate correlations between the latent factors, and differential relationships with the Big Five personality traits. ESEM proved to be a more appropriate approach for analyzing the data given the presence of cross-loadings.

Conclusions: These results support adequate structural and discriminant validity for the dimensions of the tripartite model.

Keywords:

• tripartite model
• well-being
• ESEM
• personality
• eudaimonic
• discriminant validity