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Happiness Measures

Characteristics

Code:
M-AC-h-mq-v-8-a
Focus:
Mixed: Affect + Contentment (M-AC)
Time frame:
hitherto (h)
Mode:
multiple questions (mq)
Scale Type:
verbal scale (v)
Scale Range:
8

Description

Self report on 2 questions:         

A
"How important was each of the following goals in life in the plans you  made for yourself in early adulthood?"
-  
-  
-  joy in living  


4 of prime importance to me
3
2
1 less important to me than to most people

B.
"How successful have you been in the  pursuit of these goals?"
5  had excellent fortune in this respect
4
3
2
1  little satisfaction in this area

Computation: Life satisfaction score =  Perceived success in achieving joy in living now (B) minus remembered importance of joy in living in early adulthood (A)

List of Studies Using this Measure

Study Population N Mean
Standard Deviation
Holahan et al. (1999): study US 1960 Gifted (IQ>135) followed unto old age, USA, 1960-1992 N = 383