Berkman (1971): study US Alameda County, California 1965
Publication
- Author(s):
- Berkman, P.L.
- Title:
- Life Stress and Psychological Well-Being: A Replication of Langner's Analysis in the Midtown Manhattan Study.
- Source:
- Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 1971, Vol. 12, 35 - 45
Investigation
- Public
- Adults, general public, Alameda County, USA, 1965
- Sample
- Respondents
- N = 6928
- Non Response
- Assessment
-
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Mailed questionnaire
Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings
- Full text:
-
Self report on 8 questions:
"Here is a list that describes some of the ways people feel at different times. How often do you feel each of these ways?"
A Very lonely or remote from other people
B Depressed or very unhappy
C Bored
D So restless you couldn't sit long in a chair
E Vaguely uneasy about something without knowing why
F On top of the world
G Particularly excited or interested in something
H Pleased about having accomplished something
Answer options:
0 never
1 sometimes
3 often
Summation:
Positive Affect Score (PAS): summed scores on F, G, H
Negative Affect Score (NAS): summed scores on A, B, C, D, E
Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range -15 to +9
Transformed to a 7 point scale, where 1 is all or almost all positive feelings and 7 is all or almost all negative feelings.
1 = neg 0-1 and pos 7-9
2 = neg 0-1 and pos 4-6
2 = neg 2-3 and pos 7-9
3 = neg 0-1 and pos 3
3 = neg 2-3 and pos 4-6
3 = neg 4-5 and pos 7-9
4 = neg 0-1 and pos 0-2
4 = neg 2-3 and pos 3
4 = neg 4-5 and pos 4-6
4 = neg 6-15 and pos 7-9
5 = neg 2-3 and pos 0-2
5 = neg 4-5 and pos 3
5 = neg 6-15 and pos 4-6
6 = neg 4-5 and pos 0-2
6 = neg 6-15 and pos 3
7 = neg 6-15 and pos 0-2
Name: Berkman modified variation of Bradburn's `Affect Balance Scale' - Classification:
- A-BB-g-mq-v-3-a
- Author's label:
- Psychological well-being
- Error estimates:
- Reliability: Validity: Test for external validity shows correspondence with stressfactors as psychiatric diagnosis did in the Langner & Michael (1963) study.