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Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)
A 14-statement questionnaire that measures positive mental wellbeing: how people feel and how well they are functioning. It is one of the most widely used wellbeing measures in UK schools, the NHS and public health.
Ages 11+
14 items (7 in the short form)
A few minutes
Scores 14–70
What it measures
WEMWBS measures mental wellbeing rather than mental illness. Its 14 statements are all positively worded and cover both sides of wellbeing: feeling good (optimism, cheerfulness, feeling relaxed) and functioning well (thinking clearly, dealing with problems, feeling close to other people, making up your own mind). Respondents rate how often each statement applied to them over the last two weeks. A shorter seven-statement version, SWEMWBS, focuses mainly on the functioning side and is often used where time is tight.
Who it’s for
WEMWBS is validated for people aged 11 and over, including secondary school pupils, university students and adults. Schools and trusts use it to take a wellbeing baseline across a year group, to evaluate an intervention such as a mentoring or mindfulness programme, and to compare their results with national figures. It is designed to monitor groups and evaluate services, not to diagnose individuals. For children under 11, the developers point to alternatives such as the Stirling Children's Wellbeing Scale.
SAMPLE QUESTION
Over the last two weeks, how often have you felt able to deal with problems well?
None of the time · Rarely · Some of the time · Often · All of the time
Paraphrased example for illustration. The official wording and response format are available from the University of Warwick under licence.
How it’s scored
Each statement is scored from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time), and the 14 scores are added together for a total between 14 and 70. Higher scores mean higher wellbeing. Adult population surveys in England average around 51. A change of about 3 points or more is generally treated as meaningful. Low scores, roughly 40 and under, have been linked with a higher risk of depression, but WEMWBS is not a screening tool and should not be used to diagnose. The seven-item SWEMWBS gives a raw score from 7 to 35, which is converted to a metric score using the developers' conversion table.
Validation and source
WEMWBS was developed in 2006 by researchers at the Universities of Warwick and Edinburgh, funded by NHS Health Scotland. It was first validated with UK students and a general population sample (Tennant et al., 2007, Health and Quality of Life Outcomes), then with 13–16 year olds in schools (Clarke et al., 2011). It shows high internal consistency, a single underlying factor and strong correlations with related measures such as the WHO-5. It has been translated and validated in more than 30 languages. WEMWBS is licensed by the University of Warwick. Schools, public sector bodies and charities use a non-commercial licence, so check the right licence before you use it.
WHERE YOUHQ FITS
Validated scales measure. youHQ helps you act on what they show.
A validated scale like WEMWBS gives you a reliable snapshot once or twice a year. What it can't show is what happens in between. youHQ gives pupils a quick daily check-in on how they're feeling, so pastoral teams can spot a change in mood within days rather than waiting for the next survey. Use WEMWBS to measure your whole-school picture, and youHQ to know which pupils need a conversation this week.
Frequently asked questions
Is WEMWBS free to use?
WEMWBS is licensed by the University of Warwick. There are separate NHS, non-commercial and commercial licences. Schools, public bodies and charities fall under the non-commercial licence. Check the current terms on the University of Warwick's WEMWBS site before you use it.
Can WEMWBS be used with primary school children?
No. WEMWBS is validated for ages 11 and over. For younger children, the developers suggest age-appropriate alternatives such as the Stirling Children's Wellbeing Scale.
What is a good WEMWBS score?
There is no pass mark. Scores range from 14 to 70, and adult surveys in England average around 51. WEMWBS works best for tracking change over time or comparing groups. A shift of about 3 points is usually considered meaningful.