Structural invariance of the Global Wellness Model: A national sample

Abstract

Total wellness (combined physical and mental health) is an integral element in the professional identity of counselors. Counselors need wellness-based models with corresponding screening tools to measure their clients’ wellness. A number of sociodemographic disparities in mental and physical wellness exist among US adults. While a number of wellness models exist (e.g., Global Wellness Model), the literature is missing a model that has been tested for invariance (equivalent meaning) across extant wellness-based sociodemographic variables. Invariance testing is a crucial next step in this line of research, as it is not appropriate to apply a model in practice if the meaning of the model's latent trait differs between subgroups of the population. Results demonstrated that the Global Wellness Model was invariant by gender, ethnicity, help-seeking history, income, and education among a national sample (N = 772) of US adults. Results also revealed sociodemographic differences in Global Wellness by income and help-seeking history.