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Happiness Measures

Characteristics

Code:
A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-c
Focus:
Affect: Balance (Bradburn's index) (A-BB)
Time frame:
last month, last few weeks (cm)
Mode:
multiple questions (mq)
Scale Type:
verbal scale (v)
Scale Range:
2

Description

Self report on 9 questions:

During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?  (yes/no)
B   So restless that you couldn't sit long in a chair?
C   Proud because someone complimented you on something  
     you had done?
D   Very lonely or remote from other people?
E   Pleased about having accomplished something?
F   Bored?
G   On top of the world?
H   Depressed or very unhappy?
I    That things were going your way?
J    Upset because someone criticized you?

Answer options and scoring:
yes = 1
no  = 0
Summation:
-Positive Affect Score (PAS): AC+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +4

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (adjusted version 'excited/interested' item dropped)

List of Studies Using this Measure

Study Population N Mean
Standard Deviation
Matlin (1966): study PR 1963 20+ aged, general public, Puerto Rico, 1963-1964 N = 1417
Mean
= -0.380
Sudman (1967): study US 1964 Adults, general public, USA, 1964 N = 2084
Sudman (1967): study US 1964 /1 Adults, general public, USA, 1964 N = 2084