This study explored the validity of the Cantril Ladder as a measure of well-being and life satisfaction in refugee youth experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms. The study hypothesized that refugee youth depression and self-efficacy scores would explain variance in Cantril Ladder scores. A cross-sectional self-report survey was conducted with 51 refugee youth (41 male, 10 female) aged 12-20 years in Sweden. Results from hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses showed that the PHQ-9 (depression) and GSE (self-efficacy) scores significantly explained variance in Cantril Ladder scores, suggesting moderate concurrent validity. The Cantril Ladder, while showing limitations, offers a promising tool for tracking well-being in this population as part of a broader safety protocol.

Georgina Warner, Salma Elmukashfi, Eltahir Mohammed