Description of the Questionnaire

The Berne Questionnaire of Subjective Well-Being for Adolescents (BSW-Y) is a psychometric tool designed to assess and measure adolescents’ subjective well-being. The questionnaire includes 39 statements to which students are asked to indicate the degree of their agreement or disagreement using a five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). The statements address critical aspects of the adolescents’ psychosocial status, such as life satisfaction, future outlook, physical or mental health issues, and emotional state. The tool has been adapted and standardized for the Greek population and has been shown to be valid and reliable.

Objective

The objective of the questionnaire is to evaluate adolescents’ subjective sense of well-being by taking into account their positive and negative attitudes toward life, their emotional condition, and their psychological and physical well-being. It is used to deepen understanding of the factors that influence youth mental health and to guide intervention strategies and support efforts.

Data Analysis and Usage

The analysis of the responses is based on grouping the 39 items into specific dimensions related to life satisfaction, emotional state, health issues, and future orientation. These dimensions allow for the extraction of conclusions about the psychological condition of adolescents and may be used for research purposes or to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programs. Data interpretation includes the use of statistical methods such as mean score calculations, reverse scoring for negatively worded items, and group comparisons based on demographic or psychosocial variables.

Use of Data

The data obtained from the questionnaire can be used in psychological support for adolescents, in identifying at-risk groups, in developing mental health policies within schools and families, and in academic research. It serves as a valuable tool for educators, psychologists, and other mental health professionals, as well as policy makers aiming to improve the quality of life for young people.

Scoring

Scoring is performed using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Some items are negatively phrased and require reverse coding before analysis. Internal consistency of the factors, according to Cronbach’s alpha, ranges from 0.60 to 0.85, while test-retest reliability ranges from 0.65 to 0.79. These results have also been confirmed in studies with Greek adolescent samples.

References

Grob, A., Luthi, R., Kaiser, F., Flammer, A., Mackinnon, A., & Wearing, A. (1991). Berner Fragebogen zum Wohlbefinden Jugendlicher (BSW-Youth Form). Diagnostica, 37, 66–75.
Lampropoulou, A. (2003). Subjective Well-Being and Coping Strategies for Stressful Situations in Adolescents. Master’s Thesis, Postgraduate Program in School Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Lampropoulou, A. (2008). Subjective Well-Being in Adolescents: A Multilevel Perspective of Individual, Family and School Parameters. Doctoral Dissertation, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.