The “Subjective Happiness Scale ” (SHS) – What Is It?
Happiness is what people want most. However, because of its ambiguity, it is difficult to give an exact definition of it and to develop tools by which it can be measured effectively. Nevertheless, the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) achieves this goal through a simple process.
Since the beginning of the study of human psychology, research has focused on the pathological and negative aspects of human behavior. But fortunately , social scientists today are starting to pay more attention to the study of strengths and skills, with happiness as a social construct at the center of interest.
Happiness can be described as a state of contentment, wellbeing, and pleasure. It is positively related to various physical, psychological, and social aspects of human life.
As a result , happy people seem to enjoy better physical health and stronger immune systems. In addition, they have a better track record in various areas of life: professionally, economically, in relationships and in social life.
It looks like this is a one-way street: when people achieve things, they become happy. However, this phenomenon actually works in both directions.
Happy people make better decisions and are more adaptable in interpreting reality. They also react more functionally to daily experiences and recover more quickly from failures. In other words, their particular way of thinking and acting drives them to success.
However, we must not forget that happiness has its own meaning for everyone. Other instruments designed to measure happiness have tried to measure specific aspects. And in doing so, one very important aspect was probably overlooked: that happiness is very subjective.
For this reason, the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) offers a better adapted and more suitable perspective, as it also takes into account the perception of the individual.
Happiness does not consist of the systematic achievement of achievements. There are people who seem to “have everything” and are still not happy. On the other hand, there are people who can feel happiness even in the most difficult moments in life.
Based on this premise, the Subjective Happiness Scale that we are introducing to you today measures the subjective perception of an individual’s wellbeing. The test is very simple and consists of only four questions. Each participant rates their feelings on a scale from 1 to 7.
- How happy do you feel in general? Choose an answer between 1 (very unhappy) and 7 (very happy).
- How happy do you see yourself compared to most of your peers and colleagues? Choose an answer between 1 (very unhappy) and 7 (very happy).
- Some people are generally very happy. They enjoy life regardless of what happens and discover something positive in every situation. To what extent does this description apply to you? Choose an answer between 1 (not at all) to 7 (absolute).
- Some people are not very happy. Even though they are not depressed, they still never seem to be as happy as they could be. To what extent does this description apply to you? Choose an answer between 1 (absolute) to 7 (not at all).
To calculate the result, you simply add the four individual values and divide the number by four. The result is your current subjective level of happiness. The mean values in the population vary depending on gender, age and other personal characteristics. However, the value tends to fluctuate between 4.5 and 5.5.
Population groups of different ages, genders and cultures have used this instrument because it enables a reliable measurement of subjective feelings of happiness. The reliability and validity of this scale make it a simple and useful tool for determining perceived wellbeing.
In addition , the points on this scale seem to correlate with other important traits, such as optimism and extraversion. People with these character traits are more likely to achieve higher happiness values. If your score is low, try changing your focus. Don’t forget that happiness is subjective!
