Gaitz & Scott (1972): study US Texas 1969
Publication
- Author(s):
- Gaitz, C.M.; Scott, J.P.
- Title:
- Age and the Measurement of Mental Health.
- Source:
- Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 1972, Vol. 13, 55 -67
Investigation
- Public
- Adults, general public, Houston, Texas, USA, 1969
- Sample
- Respondents
- N = 1441
- Non Response
- 2%, aged Mexican-Americans of high socio-economic status only
- Assessment
-
Interview: face-to-face
Structured interview
Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings
- Full text:
-
Self report on 10 questions:
During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....? (yes/no)
A Particularly excited or interested in something?
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): A+C+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +5
Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (standard version) - Classification:
- A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a
- Author's label:
- Psychological well-being
- Error estimates:
- Equivalence: - affect balance score x negative affect score : r = -.07 (01) - affect balance score x positive affect score : r = +.72 (01) - positive affect score x negative affect score : r = -.01 (ns) Validity:
- Full text:
-
Self report on single question :
All things considered, how happy would you say you are right now?
3 very happy
2 pretty happy
1 not too happy - Classification:
- O-HL-m-sq-v-3-a
- Author's label:
- Psychological well-being
- Observed distribution
- Frequencies
- 1: 12%, 2: 45%, 3: 43% (total 100%)
- Summary Statistics
- On original range 1 - 3 On range 0-10
- Mean:
- 2.31 7.51
- SD:
- 0.67 1.75