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Happiness Measures

Characteristics

Code:
A-BMc-cw-mq-v-4-b
Focus:
Affect: Balance: McGreal 'Depres-Happ' (A-BMc)
Time frame:
last week (cw)
Mode:
multiple questions (mq)
Scale Type:
verbal scale (v)
Scale Range:
4

Description

Self report on 6 questions:

A number of statements that people have used to describe how they feel are given below. Read each one and circle the number that best describes how frequently that statement was true for you in the past seven days, including today. Some statements describe positive feelings and some describe negative feelings. You may have experienced both positive and negative feelings at different times in the past week.
A  I felt dissatisfied with my life
B  I felt happy
C  I felt cheerless
D  I felt pleased with the way I am
E  I felt life was enjoyable
F  I felt life was meaningless

Answer options:
0  never
1  rarely
2  sometimes
3  often

Negative affect score (NAS): A + C + F
Positive affect score   (PAS): B + D + E
Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS - NAS

Name: Joseph's 'Short Depression-Happiness Scale' (SDHS)

List of Studies Using this Measure

Study Population N Mean
Standard Deviation
Joseph et al. (2004): study GB 2002 16+ aged, general public, United Kingdom, 2002 N = 241
Mean
= 12.130
SD
= 3.270
Laukka (2007): study SE 2006 65-75 aged, Sweden, 2006 N = 280
Maltby et al. (2005): study GB 2004 Students, United Kingdom, 2005 N = 244