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Studies

Stacey & Gatz (1991): study US 1971

Publication

Author(s):
Stacey, C.A.; Gatz, M.J.
Title:
Cross-Sectional Age Differences and Longitudinal Change on the Bradburn Affect Balance Scale.
Source:
Journal of Gerontology, 1991, Vol. 46, 76 - 78

Investigation

Public
Three generations of family members, followed 14 years, USA, 1971-85
Sample
Respondents
N = 1159
Non Response
Attrition T1-T2: 43%
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Mailed questionnaire

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:
Overall psychological well-being
Remarks:
possible range 0-40 (20 added to original in order to eliminate negative values)
T1 (1971):  M=21.57  SD=2.04  Ms'=6.65
T2 (1985):  M=22.11  Sd=2.17  Ms'=7.11
Error estimates:
Reliability: Cronbach alpha ranges between .62 and .73 Validity: `convergent' validity shown in correlations with: - depression (CES-D scale, Radloff 1977) - psycho-somatic symptoms (Derogatis & Spencer 1982)

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Overall psychological well-being