WHO Well-Being Index

WHO-5Wellbeing

5 items

A 5-item scale measuring current mental wellbeing over the past two weeks. Widely used in clinical and community settings as a screening tool for depression.

Scoring

Sum items (0–25), then multiply by 4 to get a percentage score (0–100). Score <50 indicates poor wellbeing; score ≤28 suggests a depressive episode — administer PHQ-9.

Citation

World Health Organization (1998). Wellbeing Measures in Primary Health Care: The DepCare Project. WHO Regional Office for Europe.

doi:10.1037/t36879-000

License: Free for unrestricted use.

Items (5)

#1likert

I have felt cheerful and in good spirits.

05 · "At no time" → "All of the time"

#2likert

I have felt calm and relaxed.

05 · "At no time" → "All of the time"

#3likert

I have felt active and vigorous.

05 · "At no time" → "All of the time"

#4likert

I woke up feeling fresh and rested.

05 · "At no time" → "All of the time"

#5likert

My daily life has been filled with things that interest me.

05 · "At no time" → "All of the time"

Use this scale in your own ESM/EMA study — embed it as a survey within SMAAT.