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Happiness Measures

Characteristics

Code:
A-BB-cw-mq-v-4-a
Focus:
Affect: Balance (Bradburn's index) (A-BB)
Time frame:
last week (cw)
Mode:
multiple questions (mq)
Scale Type:
verbal scale (v)
Scale Range:
4

Description

Self report on 11 questions:

"During the past few weeks, did you ever feel.....?"
A  angry
B  bored
C  could not get going
D  depressed
E  lonely
F  too busy
G  uneasy
H  excited
I   on top of the world
J   pleased
K  proud

Answer options and scoring:
- yes = 1
- no = 0

Positive Affect Score (PAS): summed scores on H, I, J, K
Negative Affect Score (NAS): summed scores A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Affect Balance Score (ABS):  PAS minus NAS

Possible range:  -7 to +5

Name: Bradburn's `Affect Balance Scale' (modified version)

List of Studies Using this Measure

Study Population N Mean
Standard Deviation
Nabi et al. (2008): study GB London 1985 Employees of a firm, age 35-55, London, United Kingdom, 1985-1990 N = 10308
Mean
= 18.290
SD
= 4.190
Lowenthal & Chiriboga (1973): study US 1969 People in transition, metropolis, USA, 1969 N = 216