DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/empati.2025.54129

A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION OF RYFF'S PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING SCALE AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CROSS-CULTURAL VALIDITY AS WELL AS SPIRITUAL VALUES

Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. HAMKA, Jl. Limau II, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta, Indonesia, Indonesia

Received: 21 Oct 2025; Available online: 1 Dec 2025; Published: 1 Dec 2025.

Citation Format:
Abstract

This research aimed to discuss Ryff's psychological well-being (PWB) scale and looked at problems with making it valid and reliable for different cultures and groups. It also explains how Ryff's PWB scale has changed over time and gave ideas for what to do in future publications. The method used was a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), where articles were found, examined, and studied critically. Among 429 articles, only 29 met the criteria and were used for further checking. The results showed that the original 120-item scale was valid and reliable, but it was too long to use easily. A shorter version with 18 items did not have good enough validity. Some studies also said the six-factor model in Ryff's scale did not match the data, and new models were suggested instead. This research confirmed there was a need to check the examination across more cultures, make better items, and think about new theories. It also said the six-factor model could work well with Islamic values added to it.

Fulltext View|Download Email colleagues
Keywords: psychological well-being ryff scale, psychometry analysis, further research, systematic review.

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Research Articles
Language : EN
  1. Abbott, R. A., Ploubidis, G. B., Huppert, F. A., Kuh, D., Wadsworth, M. E. J., & Croudace, T. J. (2006). Psychometric evaluation and predictive validity of Ryff’s psychological well-being items in a UK birth cohort sample of women. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 4, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-4-76
  2. Abu-Raiya, H., & Pargament, K. I. (2011). Empirically based psychology of Islam: Summary and critique of the literature. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 14(2), 93–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670903426482
  3. Altalib, H. H., Elzamzamy, K., Fattah, M., Ali, S. S., & Awaad, R. (2019). Mapping global Muslim mental health research: analysis of trends in the English literature from 2000 to 2015. Global Mental Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2019.3
  4. Blasco-Belled, A., & Alsinet, C. (2022). The architecture of psychological well-being: A network analysis study of the Ryff psychological well-being scale. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 63(3), 199–207. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12795
  5. Brandel, M., Vescovelli, F., & Ruini, C. (2017). Beyond Ryff’s scale: Comprehensive measures of eudaimonic well-being in clinical populations. A systematic review. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 24(6), O1524–O1546. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2104
  6. Burns, R. A., & Machin, M. A. (2009). Investigating the structural validity of Ryff’s psychological well-being scales across two samples. Social Indicators Research, 93(2), 359–375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9329-1
  7. Carrera-Rivera, A., Ochoa, W., Larrinaga, F., & Lasa, G. (2022). How-to conduct a systematic literature review: A quick guide for computer science research. MethodsX, 9, 101895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101895
  8. Cheng, S. T., & Chan, A. C. M. (2005). Measuring psychological well-being in the Chinese. Personality and Individual Differences, 38(6), 1307–1316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2004.08.013
  9. Colombo, M., Bucher, L., & Inbar, Y. (2016). Explanatory Judgment, Moral Offense and Value-Free Science. Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 7(4), 743–763. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-015-0282-z
  10. Espinoza, J. A., Meyer, J. P., Anderson, B. K., Vaters, C., & Politis, C. (2018). Evidence for a Bifactor Structure of the Scales of Psychological Well-Being Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling. Journal of Well-Being Assessment, 2(1), 21–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41543-018-0008-y
  11. Gao, J., & McLellan, R. (2018). Using Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being in adolescents in mainland China. BMC Psychology, 6(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-018-0231-6
  12. Garcia, D., Kazemitabar, M., & Asgarabad, M. H. (2023). The 18-item Swedish version of Ryff’s psychological wellbeing scale: Psychometric properties based on classical test theory and item response theory. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1208300
  13. Hendarto, Y. M. (2023). Kritik Nietzsche terhadap kebahagiaan eudaimonia Sokrates. Dekonstruksi, 10(01), 106–122. https://doi.org/10.54154/dekonstruksi.v10i01.219
  14. Henn, C. M., Hill, C., & Jorgensen, L. I. (2016). An investigation into the factor structure of the Ryff scales of psychological well-being. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 42(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v42i1.1275
  15. Hsu, H. Y., Hsu, T. L., Lee, K. F., & Wolff, L. (2017). Evaluating the Construct Validity of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 35(6), 633–638. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282916652756
  16. Joshanloo, M. (2013). A comparison of Western and Islamic conceptions of happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(6), 1857–1874. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-012-9406-7
  17. Joshanloo, M. (2014). Eastern conceptualizations of happiness: Fundamental differences with Western views. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(2), 475–493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9431-1
  18. Kafka, G. J., & Kozma, A. (2002). The construct validity of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being (SPWB) and their relationship to measures of subjective well-being. Social Indicators Research, 57(2), 171–190. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014451725204
  19. Kállay, É., & Rus, C. (2014). Psychometric properties of the 44-item version of Ryff’s psychological well-being scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 30(1), 15–21. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000163
  20. Kaplick, P. M., & Skinner, R. (2017). The evolving Islam and psychology movement. European Psychologist, 22(3), 198–204. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000297
  21. Kianifar, H., Sadeghi, R., & Zarifmahmoudi, L. (2014). Comparison between impact factor, eigenfactor metrics, and SCimago journal rank indicator of pediatric neurology journals. Acta Informatica Medica, 22(2), 103–106. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2014.22.103-106
  22. Kitamura, T., Kishida, Y., Gatayama, R., Matsuoka, T., Miura, S., & Yamabe, K. (2004). Ryff’s psychological well-being inventory: Factorial structure and life history correlates among Japanese university students. Psychological Reports, 94(1), 83–103. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.94.1.83-103
  23. Koburtay, T., Syed, J., & Salhi, N. Al. (2022). Theorizing the notion of well-being in Islam: An update of Ryff’s theory of eudaimonic psychological well-being. Journal of Community Psychology, 50(5), 2475–2490. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22790
  24. Lame, G. (2019). Systematic literature reviews: An introduction. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED, 2019-Augus(AUGUST), 1633–1642. https://doi.org/10.1017/dsi.2019.169
  25. Li, R. H., Kao, C. M., & Wu, Y. Y. (2015). Gender differences in psychological well-being: tests of factorial invariance. Quality of Life Research, 24(11), 2577–2581. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-0999-2
  26. Lindfors, P., Berntsson, L., & Lundberg, U. (2006). Factor structure of Ryff’s psychological well-being scales in Swedish female and male white-collar workers. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(6), 1213–1222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.10.016
  27. Mardhika, M. K., & Hidayati, B. M. R. (2019). Psychological Well-Being pada Santri Ngrowot Di PP. Haji Ya’qub Lirboyo Kota Kediri. Journal An-Nafs: Kajian Penelitian Psikologi, 4(2), 201–224. https://doi.org/10.33367/psi.v4i2.873
  28. Mattes, J. (2019). Reports of the Death of Value-Free Science Are Greatly Exaggerated. Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 10(4), 689–699. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-018-0426-z
  29. Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., & Group, P.-P. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (prisma-p) 2015 statement. Systematic Reviews, 4(1), 1–9
  30. Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness Is Everything, or Is It? Explorations on the Meaning of Psychological Well-Being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081
  31. Ryff, C. D. (2015). Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in science and practice. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000353263.Psychological
  32. Ryff, C. D. (2021). Spirituality and well-being: Theory, science, and the nature connection. Religions, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12110914
  33. Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719
  34. Saajanaho, M., Kokko, K., Pynnönen, K., Tourunen, A., Törmäkangas, T., Portegijs, E., & Rantanen, T. (2021). The scales of psychological well-being–a validation, usability and test–retest study among community-dwelling older people in Finland. Aging and Mental Health, 25(5), 913–922. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1725801
  35. Sasaki, N., Watanabe, K., Imamura, K., Nishi, D., Karasawa, M., Kan, C., Ryff, C. D., & Kawakami, N. (2020). Japanese version of the 42-item psychological well-being scale (PWBS-42): A validation study. BMC Psychology, 8(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00441-1
  36. Sirigatti, S., Penzo, I., Iani, L., Mazzeschi, A., Hatalskaja, H., Giannetti, E., & Stefanile, C. (2013). Measurement Invariance of Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scales Across Italian and Belarusian Students. Social Indicators Research, 113(1), 67–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0082-0
  37. Springer, K. W., & Hauser, R. M. (2006). An assessment of the construct validity of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being: Method, mode, and measurement effects. Social Science Research, 35(4), 1080–1102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2005.07.004
  38. Springer, K. W., Hauser, R. M., & Freese, J. (2006). Bad news indeed for Ryff’s six-factor model of well-being. Social Science Research, 35(4), 1120–1131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2006.01.003
  39. Springer, K. W., Pudrovska, T., & Hauser, R. M. (2011). Does psychological well-being change with age? Longitudinal tests of age variations and further exploration of the multidimensionality of Ryff’s model of psychological well-being. Social Science Research, 40(1), 392–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2010.05.008
  40. Sukmawati, S., & Husna, S. (2023). The Impact of Religiosity and Social Support on Psychological Well-Being among Tahfidz Students. Journal An-Nafs: Kajian Penelitian Psikologi, 8(2), 213–231. https://doi.org/10.33367/psi.v8i2.3907
  41. Tay, J. L. (2023). Ryff’s psychological well-being scale among youths in Singapore: Validity and reliability and differences based on gender, religion, socioeconomic status. Psychological Studies, 68(4), 592–600. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-023-00757-z
  42. Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a methodology for developing evidence-informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. British Journal of Management, 14, 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92836-0_28
  43. van Dierendonck, D. (2004). The construct validity of Ryff’s scales of psychological well-being and its extension with spiritual well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 36(3), 629–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00122-3
  44. Viejo, C., Gómez-López, M., & Ortega-Ruiz, R. (2018). Adolescents’ psychological well-being: A multidimensional measure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102325
  45. Villar, F., Triadó, C., Celdrán, M., & Solé, C. (2010). Measuring Well-being among Spanish older adults: Development of a Simplified version of Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-being. Psychological Reports, 107(1), 265–280. https://doi.org/10.2466/02.07.08.10.21.PR0.107.4.265-280
  46. Yang, L., Zhang, H., Shen, H., Huang, X., Zhou, X., Rong, G., & Shao, D. (2021). Quality Assessment in Systematic Literature Reviews: A Software Engineering Perspective. Information and Software Technology, 130(March 2019), 106397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2020.106397

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update:

No citation recorded.