Examining Cross-Age Invariance of WEMWBS and the Role of Self-Compassion in Predicting Well-Being among Young and Middle-Aged Adults in Malaysia

Despite the known differences in the age-specific challenges and demands across the phases of adult life, limited research was done to examine the efficacy of well-being measures in different adult life stages. Studies on the unique link between self-compassion and mental health in different adult life phases are also unexplored, especially in under-represented populations. This cross-sectional study aimed to 1) examine the cross-age invariance of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) and 2) determine the association between self-compassion dimensions (self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) and mental well-being between young and middle-aged adults in Malaysia. Survey data were collected from data from young ( n  = 185; Males = 65, Females = 120) and middle-aged adults ( n  = 172; Males = 54, Females = 118). Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the WEMWBS has reached configural, metric, and scalar invariance between young and middle-aged adults. Multiple regression analyses showed that common humanity and mindfulness predicted mental well-being among young adults while only self-kindness was associated with mental well-being among middle-aged adults. Implications for adult mental health screening and age-appropriate self-compassion-based interventions were discussed.