5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being. ≈ 1 min to complete. Free with attribution.
WHO-5 (WHO Well-Being Index) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess 5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being.. It is most often used for 5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being.. The instrument contains 5 items. Typical administration time is ≈ 1 min.
Source / attribution: Free to use with citation
5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being. WHO-5 is part of standard practice in this setting because it provides a structured, replicable assessment that can be tracked over time and compared across patients or visits.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, WHO-5 is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 5 items below to see your WHO-5 score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 6-point scale (0–5). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Sum all 5 items scored 0-5, then multiply by 4 to get 0-100 percentage score. Higher = better well-being.
Scoring notes: Sum all 5 items scored 0-5, then multiply by 4 to get 0-100 percentage score. Higher = better well-being.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–28 | Poor well-being | Consider intervention |
| 29–50 | Moderate well-being | Monitor |
| 51–100 | Good well-being | Maintain |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I have felt cheerful and in good spirits | All of the time | 5 |
| 2 | I have felt calm and relaxed | All of the time | 5 |
| 3 | I have felt active and vigorous | All of the time | 5 |
| 4 | I woke up feeling fresh and rested | All of the time | 5 |
| 5 | My daily life has been filled with things that interest me | All of the time | 5 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
5 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 25
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 25 falls between 0 and 28 → Poor well-being
Poor well-being. Consider intervention
A score is one input alongside history and examination. WHO-5 supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
Psychometric figures are drawn from the validation literature and may vary across clinical populations and translations.
If WHO-5 doesn't fit your context, related instruments in wellbeing include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS | 8-item measure of self-perceived success in relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. | 8 | ≈ 2 min |
| SPANE | 12-item measure of positive and negative emotional experiences. | 12 | ≈ 2 min |
| MLQ | 10-item measure assessing presence of meaning and search for meaning in life. | 10 | ≈ 3 min |
| GQ-6 | 6-item measure of individual differences in the disposition to experience gratitude. | 6 | ≈ 2 min |
| SHS | 4-item global measure of subjective happiness using absolute ratings and social comparisons. | 4 | ≈ 1 min |
| AHS | 12-item measure of dispositional hope with agency and pathways subscales. | 12 | ≈ 3 min |
| PWB-18 | 18-item short form assessing six dimensions of psychological well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. | 18 | ≈ 5 min |
| PGIS | 9-item measure of active, intentional engagement in personal growth and self-change. | 9 | ≈ 2 min |
WHO-5 (WHO Well-Being Index) is a validated instrument that assesses 5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being.. Its primary clinical use is 5-item measure of subjective psychological well-being..
WHO-5 typically takes ≈ 1 min to administer. Time can vary slightly depending on whether it is self-administered or clinician-led.
WHO-5 contains 5 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 51–100 fall in the "Good well-being" band. Maintain
Scores of 0–28 fall in the "Poor well-being" band. Consider intervention
WHO-5 has reported Cronbach's α of 0.92 in validation samples and test–retest reliability of 0.82. Sensitive to change; used in clinical trials.
WHO-5 is free to use with attribution. Free to use with citation
Bech, P., Olsen, L. R., Kjoller, M., & Rasmussen, N. K. (2003). Measuring well-being rather than the absence of distress symptoms. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 1(29), 1-6.
No. WHO-5 is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
WHO-5 is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: