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Happiness Measures

Characteristics

Code:
M-AO-*-mqr-*-*-a
Focus:
Mixed: Affect + Overall (M-AO)
Time frame:
various time frames (*)
Mode:
multiple questions, repeated (mqr)
Scale Type:
Different rating scales combined (*)
Scale Range:
0

Description

Various self reports and informant rating

A   Self report on five questions repeated three times during semester:
      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 ...1  strongly disagree
      (Diener's Satisfaction With Life Scale, SWLS)

B   Self report on 24 questions:
      How much of each mood did you experience in the last month?
      BA  LOVE
      a     Affection
      b     love
      c     caring
      d     fondness
      BB  JOY
      a     joy
      b     happiness
      c     contentment
      d     pride
      BC  FEAR
      a     fear
      b     worry
      c     anxiety
      d     nervous
      BD  ANGER
      a     anger
      b     irritation
      c     disgust
      d     rage
      BE  SHAME
      a     shame
      b     guilt
      c     regret
      d     embarrassment
      BF   SADNESS
      a     sadness
      b     loneliness
      c     unhappiness
      d     depression
      Rated: 0 = not at all ….6 extremely much
      Summation: balance score (BA+BB)/2 - (BC+BD+BE+BF)/4

C   Rating of B by five informants

D  Self report of daily affect on B

Summation: z-scores

List of Studies Using this Measure

Study Population N Mean
Standard Deviation
Diener & Seligman (2002): study US 1997 Undergraduate students, US, 199? N = 222
SD
= 1.000
Lepper (1998): study US California 1993 Retirees, Southern California, USA, followed 9 months199? N = 971