Measuring relational wellbeing: construct validity in pre-COVID-Era UK; generalizability across COVID-lockdown-Era India, Greece, and UK.

Aim: In the present studies, we examine the construct validity and criterion-related validity of a previously unpublished, eight-item measure of relational wellbeing.

Methods: First, in two pre-COVID-Era pilot studies within the UK ('s = 207 and 146, respectively), results of exploratory factor analyses revealed that-with the possible exception of one item regarding close relationships-the items assessed individual differences along a single dimension (i.e., relational wellbeing), rather than two distinct dimensions (i.e., social connections and close relationships). Second, in an initial pre-COVID-Era main study within the UK ( = 192), results of confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the hypothesized one-dimensional factor pattern, although the same problematic item from the pilot studies continued to under-perform relative to the other seven items.

Findings: In a subsequent COVID-Lockdown-Era main study across India ( = 205), Greece ( = 354), and the UK ( = 390), results of confirmatory factor analyses established that-after omitting the same problematic item that had surfaced in the preceding studies-a one-dimensional factor pattern provided equally satisfactory fit for the three samples.

Original Value: Although we had not set out to test hypotheses regarding mean similarities or differences in relational wellbeing among our COVID-Lockdown-Era studies, results of an analysis of variance revealed that persons within the UK scored significantly lower in relational wellbeing than did persons in India or Greece.

Limitations: As noted above, one particular item repeatedly performed poorly in factor analyses; this item ideally should be dropped from the relational wellbeing scale in future research.