According to the World Health Organization, health is a holistic state of physical, psychological, and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease (World Health Organization, 1946). This conceptualization transcends the reductionist pathology-based approach focused on the negative aspects of wellbeing. Focusing on both positive aspects of wellbeing (such as Flourishing), as well as negative facets, such as psychopathology, allows for a more complete understanding of an individual’s overall psychological health (Antaramian et al., 2010; García-Álvarez et al., 2020; Barragán and Ramsés, 2021). In this regard, the field of positive psychology is particularly important. Positive psychology focuses on the qualities and other facets that allow people to live a happy, productive life; to grow personally; and to develop the different capacities and skills that are considered important to promote wellbeing, for example, autonomy, physical health, and self-determination, among others (Diener, 1984; Hernández Rincón et al., 2022). Another facet that is considered essential for wellbeing is Flourishing.

Flourishing refers to positive traits and states such as purpose, hope, resilience, self-esteem, and positive relationships (Diener et al., 2010). The combination and interaction of the five elements of the PERMA model (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments) may lead to Flourishing and are key to experience wellbeing (Seligman, 2018). These elements constitute a source of intrinsic reward and thus motivate people to do things and to continue doing them, further allowing the person to achieve optimal psychosocial functioning (Butler and Kern, 2016). In this sense, Flourishing is understood from a humanistic and eudaimonic perspective of wellbeing (Choudhry et al., 2018).

Recent research has provided insights into the importance of Flourishing. For instance, people with high levels of Flourishing tend to have more resourceful coping mechanisms against adverse life events (Prizmić-Larsen et al., 2020). Flourishing also protects against unhealthy lifestyles, risky behaviors, and psychopathological symptoms. As such, research suggests that Flourishing should be considered an essential element in public health interventions (Sofija et al., 2020; Kelly-Hedrick et al., 2022), and be an explicit objective of public policy as it relates to critical elements of social welfare and connectedness with others and the surrounding world (Seaford, 2019).

Although several questionnaires are used to measure Flourishing, this study focused on the Flourishing Scale (FS) (Diener et al., 2010). Originally conceptualized as a unidimensional measure, the FS considers the following constructs: purpose/meaning in life, life satisfaction, optimism, competence, perceived engagement in activities, positive relationships, contributing to others’ happiness, and being respected by others. The scale’s validity, factor structure, and reliability were supported in studies conducted in other countries (Hone et al., 2014; Villieux et al., 2016).

To this day, research on Flourishing in Spanish-speaking populations is sparse, including the validation of measures of Flourishing (Waigel and Lemos, 2023). To our knowledge, the FS has not yet been validated in the Honduran population. It is important that scales are validated for the populations in which they will be used, as cultural and social factors can influence how Flourishing is experienced in different populations. Using a scale that has not been validated for specific countries or cultural groups may inaccurately reflect the experiences of Flourishing of such a population. The current study focuses on the Honduran population, who suffers from high levels of poverty, political instability, and violence (Gindling and Terrell, 2010; Landa-Blanco et al., 2020), that may have a negative impact on their mental health (Knifton and Inglis, 2020; Foell et al., 2021). As such, this population may be in need of interventions aimed at promoting their well-being (including Flourishing) and, in turn, appropriate measures to assess the need for intervention and the effectiveness of such interventions.

Consequently, this study aims to validate the Spanish version of the FS for the Honduran population (Diener and Biswas-Diener, 2009). Based on prior validation studies of the FS, the following hypotheses were tested:

The results support the unidimensionality of the Spanish version of the FS. The one-factor model has also been supported in other studies within the Latin American context (Da Fonseca et al., 2015). The FS also has adequate test–retest reliability at the one-month follow-up, with a rho of 0.66, constituting a large effect size (Cohen, 1992). Additionally, the FS achieved a high internal consistency (McDonald’s ω = 0.89).

Regarding validity, scores on the FS are positively related to scores on the SHS and the PANAS-Positive Affect subscale. This is in line with the theoretical dynamic between such variables, as happiness and positive feelings are core components of Flourishing (Weele and Tyler, 2017). Additional support for the validity of the FS was found when determining its inverse relationship with scores on the PHQ-9 and PANAS-Negative Affect subscale. Previous research has also concluded that Flourishing is a protective factor against poor mental health outcomes (Burns et al., 2022). The data supports the metric, scalar, and strict measurement invariance of the Spanish version of the FS concerning the respondents’ sex.

Measuring Flourishing is helpful for several reasons. Firstly, it allows researchers and policymakers to understand the factors contributing to wellbeing and happiness among individuals and communities (Weele and Tyler, 2017). Through an evidence-based approach, this understanding can be used to develop policies and programs that are more effective in promoting human development and reducing poverty and inequality. Such an approach may inform strategic decisions for developing programs and public policies aimed at preventive aspects of mental health promotion (Trudel-Fitzgerald et al., 2019).

Secondly, measuring Flourishing can help identify populations at risk of poor wellbeing and needing intervention (Roche et al., 2019). The effectiveness of existing policies and programs can be evaluated through measurements of Flourishing. This information can then be used to improve the design and implementation of future interventions based on population needs. Flourishing measurements can provide a benchmark for the progress of society and the government’s efforts to improve the wellbeing of its citizens. It is a way to track the progress and adjust the policies accordingly, ensuring that society is moving toward social development (Landa-Blanco, 2021). Measuring Flourishing can also provide valuable insights into the impact of certain events, such as natural disasters, economic downturns, or pandemics, on the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Considering many of these events are unpredictable, having a Flourishing baseline readily available through universal screenings may be useful; as measuring Flourishing before and after these events, researchers and policymakers can understand the event’s impact and develop interventions to mitigate any adverse effects on wellbeing.

However, the present study has limitations that must be considered. Firstly, the non-probabilistic sampling selection limits the generalization of the results. Future studies should aim to include more representative samples from Honduras and other global populations. Secondly, data were collected online. Therefore, people without access to the internet or technological devices, such as computers or mobile phones, could not participate in the survey. Thirdly, no linguistic validation of the FS was done; this could have provided insights into respondents’ interpretation of individual items. Fourthly, replications and further studies are needed to understand the FS functioning in low-and-middle-income countries, as the overall research production of the global South is still limited (Albanna et al., 2021); this has led to a significant gap in the literature regarding Flourishing in Spanish-speaking countries (Waigel and Lemos, 2023).

In conclusion, the current data support the one-factor structure of the Spanish version of the FS in the Honduran population. The scale also had high internal consistency and temporal reliability at the one-month follow-up. Convergent and divergent validity has been established, as well as metric, scalar, and strict measurement invariance concerning the respondents’ sex. Validating the FS in specific populations, like Honduras, is essential to ensure the scale is appropriate and relevant for the contexts and cultures in which they will be used. It can also be used to better understand Flourishing in the Honduran and other global populations, which, in turn, can also facilitate the development of interventions and programs that promote wellbeing.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the Comité de Ética en Investigación de la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales (UNAH). The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

ML-B: conceptualization, methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigation, supervision, project administration, and writing—original draft. AC-R: conceptualization, methodology, validation, investigation, and writing—original draft. GV, YR, and YE: conceptualization, methodology, validation, and investigation. All authors involved approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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