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Studies

Smits et al. (1995): study NL 1992

Publication

Author(s):
Smits, C.H.; Bosscher, R.J.; Deeg, D.J.
Title:
Well-being and control in older persons: The prediction of well-being from control measures.
Source:
International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 1995, Vol. 40, 237 - 251

Investigation

Public
Elderly, Sassenheim, the Netherlands, 1992
Sample
Probability simple random sample
Respondents
N = 119
Non Response
24,4%
Assessment
Interview: face-to-face
Interview and additional questionnaires

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

"During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?"
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:
1  never
2  sometimes
3  often
4  very often

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: -15 to +15

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (adapted version)
Classification:
A-BB-cw-mq-v-4-g
Author's label:
Well-being
Remarks:
Translation by authors.
Balance score is mean score on all items.
Page in publication:
243
Error estimates:
Cronbach alpha = .64
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -15 - 15 On range 0-10
Mean:
27.48 -
SD:
3.77 -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding age Age difference among elderly gender Sex: male (vs female) sense of coherence Coherence (sense of) neuroticism Neurotic (f48) mastery Inner locus of control self-efficacy Efficacious, productive internal health control Attitudes to health-maintenance social inadequacy Attitudes to personal contacts