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Original Article

Measuring Well-Being With the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale – Student Form

Validation of a 9- and a 3-Item Measure of Student Engagement

Published Online:September 11, 2019https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000027

Abstract

Abstract. Our study introduces a 9-item and an ultra-short 3-item version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale – Student Form (UWES-SF). Using data from German university students (N = 2,620), our aim was to validate the factorial structure of the UWES-9-SF and to investigate the reliability and validity of an ultra-short measure – the UWES-3-SF. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) confirmed the three-factor structure of the 9-item version (CFI = .95; SRMR = .033, RMSEA = .088), the internal consistencies of the sub-scales were satisfactory. The ultra-short version with three items (one of each dimension) also proved to be a reliable indicator of student engagement with a Cronbach’s α of .86. Construct validity with similar and opposite constructs (burnout, satisfaction with life, subjective health, depressive symptoms, challenging study demands) was successfully proven for both measures as well as for the sub-scales of the UWES-9-SF. The German short and ultra-short versions of the UWES-SF with nine and three items, respectively, are valid and reliable measures to assess student engagement.

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