Self-Report Measurement of Well-Being in Autistic Adults: Psychometric Properties of the PERMA Profiler

Abstract

Background: Studies of positive psychology and emotional well-being have broadened our understanding of mental health. However, mental health research involving autistic adults has been largely deficit-focused. Few studies have examined well-being using established positive psychological frameworks. Methods: This study examined the psychometric characteristics of the PERMA Profiler, a 23-item questionnaire that measures well-being across five subscales (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment), in a sample of 517 autistic adults ages 18–84 years ( M = 39.5, standard deviation [SD] = 13.3). Reliability (internal consistency), structural validity (via confirmatory factor analysis including bifactor modeling), and concurrent validity were examined. Results: The PERMA Profiler mean (SD) well-being score was 5.4 (SD = 1.7), which is notably lower than the mean of 7.0 previously found in nonautistic samples. Subscale scores were highest for Engagement ( M = 6.8; SD = 1.9), followed by Accomplishment ( M = 5.6; SD = 2.2), Relationships ( M = 5.2; SD = 2.6), Meaning ( M = 5.2; SD = 2.7), and Positive emotion ( M = 5.0; SD = 2.4). Factor analyses revealed strong psychometrics (Cronbach's α = 0.93; Comparative Fit Index = 0.94; Tucker–Lewis Index = 0.97; root mean square error of approximation = 0.08; standardized root mean residual = 0.05) and superior fit of the bifactor model, supporting a general factor for conceptualizing well-being as opposed to a five-factor model. PERMA well-being and subscale scores were significantly correlated ( p < 0.001) with mental health conditions and life satisfaction. Conclusion: These findings support use of an adapted version of the PERMA Profiler in mental health research to evaluate well-being among autistic adults. Similar to studies with nonautistic populations, the Engagement measure may not capture the experiences of the autistic population and further refinement is needed. Follow-up research should represent a more diverse autistic population, collaborate with autistic coinvestigators, and explore potential correlates of well-being (such as social stigma) while using the PERMA Profiler.

Examining cognitive accessibility of the VIA Inventory of Strengths for adults with intellectual disability

“…As discussed in the literature, there are significant limits to relying solely on proxy reports for adults with intellectual disability, especially for measuring internal states, feelings, and opinions (Emerson et al, 2013;Kooijmans et al, 2022). Other studies have validated the use of self-report among adults with intellectual disability, such as assessments of well-being and psychological symptoms (e.g., the PERMA Profiler and the Brief Symptom Inventory; Grosvenor et al, 2023;Wieland et al, 2012). In addition, self-report assessments that have been specifically adapted or created for people with intellectual disability have also demonstrated strong psychometric properties, such as the Modified Worker Loneliness Questionnaire (Stancliffe et al, 2014), the How I Think Questionnaire-Intellectual Disabilities (Daniel et al, 2018), the Glasgow Anxiety Scale for people with an Intellectual Disability (Mindham & Espie, 2003), and the Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Patient-Reported Outcome (PEDI-PRO) (Kramer et al, 2021).…”