Psychometric Properties of the Flourishing Scale and Measurement Invariance Between Two Samples of Spanish University Students

Abstract

The Flourishing Scale (FS), created by Diener et al., is a brief subjective perception measurement which assesses flourishing and provides a single score across 8 items. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the FS. Participants were 1,502 university students from different faculties and fields of knowledge. The results reveal good internal consistency. The single factor structure of the FS was supported by the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, which also provided evidence of the invariant structure of the scale across two subsamples. The scale's convergent validity with another measure of psychological well-being and its discriminant validity with the depression, anxiety, and stress symptom scale were demonstrated through the significant correlations observed with said measures. The FS was found to be apt for use in evaluating general well-being in the Spanish population and may be considered a reliable measure in future well-being studies. It can also be used as an instrument for planning, executing, and/or assessing practical interventions in social, care, and health-related programs.

Keywords: emerging adulthood; factor invariance analysis; flourishing; negative emotions; psychological well-being.