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Studies

Harkins (1978): study US 1973

Publication

Author(s):
Harkins, E.B.
Title:
Effects of Empty Nest Transition on Self-report of Psychological and Physical Well-Being.
Source:
Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1978, Vol. 40, 549 -556

Investigation

Public
Empty Nest mothers, USA, 1973-1974
Sample
Probability multistage stratified area sample
Respondents
N = 475
Non Response
33%
Assessment
Interview: Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI)
Mail survey and telephone follow-ups

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

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Age