Psychometric validation of the PERMA-profiler for well-being in Chinese adults

Yi-Zi Nie; Xu Zhang; Ning-Wei Hong; Chao Zhou; Qian-Qian Huang; Shu-Yan Cao; Chen Wang

doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104248

Psychometric validation of the PERMA-profiler for well-being in Chinese adults

Acta Psychol (Amst). 2024 Apr 9:246:104248. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104248. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yi-Zi Nie¹, Xu Zhang¹, Ning-Wei Hong¹, Chao Zhou², Qian-Qian Huang¹, Shu-Yan Cao³, Chen Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, School of Teacher Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China.
² Faculty of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310000, China.
³ Zhangzhuang Central Kindergarden, Linyi 276309, China.
⁴ Department of Psychology, School of Teacher Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China; Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China. Electronic address: 2020000101@usx.edu.cn.

PMID: 38598923
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104248

Abstract

Well-being is one of the central topics in psychology, and research on this topic has shifted from emotional experiences to flourishing life in recent years. Seligman's PERMA model is a prominent theory in this shift. However, this model is proposed in Western culture and has yet to be empirically validated in the Chinese context. The present research aims to examine the applicability of the five-dimension PERMA-Profiler in Chinese culture, which has been developed based on the PERMA model. A sample of 1468 Chinese adults participated in the research. After translation and validation, a series of psychometric analyses were conducted to examine the internal consistency reliability, construct validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and factorial invariance across genders. The PERMA-Profiler Chinese showed high Cronbach's alpha coefficients (α = 0.79-0.88), good divergent (r = -0.19 to -0.38) and convergent validity (r = 0.53-0.85), as well as satisfactory structural validity. Results of the structural validity demonstrated a better fit to the first-order model with five correlated factors after modification (χ²/df = 4.65, RMSEA = 0.058, SRMR = 0.030, CFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.924) than the second-order model with a higher-order factor of well-being. However, the engagement dimension of the PERMA-Profiler Chinese could be improved further. In conclusion, the PERMA model is applicable to the Chinese culture, and the PERMA-Profiler provides a valid measure of well-being for Chinese adults.

Keywords: PERMA-Profiler; Reliability; Validity, Chinese adults; Well-being.