Headey et al. (1993): study AU AU Victoria 1981
Publication
- Author(s):
- Headey, B.; Kelley, J.; Wearing, A.J.
- Title:
- Dimensions of Mental Health: Life Satisfaction, Positive Affect, Anxiety and Depression.
- Source:
- Social Indicators Research, 1993, Vol. 29, 63 - 82
Investigation
- Public
- 18-65 aged, Victoria, Australia, followed 1981 to 1987
- Sample
- Probability stratified sample
- Respondents
- N = 419
- Non Response
- Assessment
-
Interview: face-to-face
In 1981 942 panel members were selected. By 1987 649 members remained. In 1987 a supplementary mail questionnaire, used to measure depression and anxiety, netted 419 replies. Mailed questionnaire at T4 to measure depression/anxiety
Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings
- Full text:
-
Self report on single question asked twice
'How do you feel about your life as a whole?'
1 terrible
2 very unhappy
3 unhappy
4 mostly dissatisfied
5 mixed feelings
6 mostly satisfied
7 pleased
8 very pleased
9 delighted - Classification:
- O-DT-u-sqt-v-9-a
- Author's label:
- Life-as-a-whole (LAW) index
- Page in publication:
- 67
- Error estimates:
- Correlations between responses to this same item administered15 minutes apart: +.71
- 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:
- Positive(PAS)/Negative(NAS) Affect Scale
- Page in publication:
- 68
- Full text:
-
Self report on single question:
Use the list below to answer the following question: IN GENERAL, HOW HAPPY OR UNHAPPY DO YOU USUALLY FEEL? Check the one statement that best describes your average happiness.
10 extremely happy (feeling ecstatic, joyous, fantastic!)
9 very happy (feeling really good and elated!)
8 pretty happy (spirits high, feeling good)
7 mildly happy (feeling fairly good and somewhat cheerful)
6 slightly happy ( just a bit above neutral)
5 slightly unhappy (just a bit below neutral)
4 mildly unhappy (just a bit low)
3 pretty unhappy (somewhat "blue", spirits down)
2 very unhappy ( depressed, spirits very low)
1 extremely unhappy (utterly depressed, completely down)
Name: Fordyce's overall happiness item. - Classification:
- M-FH-g-sq-v-10-a
- Author's label:
- 0-10 Happy-Scale
- Page in publication:
- 68
- Full text:
-
Self report on 8 items
A How do you feel about your life as a whole?
Rated on a 9-step Delighted-Terrible scale
Asked twice in the interview with 15 minutes interval
B a In most ways my life is close to ideal
b The conditions of my life are excellent
c I am satisfied with my life
d So far, I have gotten the important things I want in life
e If I could live my life over, I would change nothing'
Answers rated: 7 strongly agree to 1 strongly disagree
C How do you feel usually?
0 extremely unhappy
.
.
10 extremely happy
Computation: factor - Classification:
- O-Sum-*-mq-*-*-a
- Author's label:
- Life Satisfaction
- Page in publication:
- 76
Correlational Findings
Anxious
Current friendship network
Current chances for intimacy
Satisfaction with family