Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among Adolescents
BackgroundHappiness is becoming increasingly relevant in recent research, including adolescents. Many studies are using the single-item measure for adolescent happiness, however, its validity is not well known. We aimed to examine the validity of this measure among adolescents in three countries fro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.884520/full |
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| author | Justė Lukoševičiūtė Justė Lukoševičiūtė Geneviève Gariepy Judith Mabelis Tania Gaspar Roza Joffė-Luinienė Kastytis Šmigelskas Kastytis Šmigelskas |
| author_facet | Justė Lukoševičiūtė Justė Lukoševičiūtė Geneviève Gariepy Judith Mabelis Tania Gaspar Roza Joffė-Luinienė Kastytis Šmigelskas Kastytis Šmigelskas |
| author_sort | Justė Lukoševičiūtė |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundHappiness is becoming increasingly relevant in recent research, including adolescents. Many studies are using the single-item measure for adolescent happiness, however, its validity is not well known. We aimed to examine the validity of this measure among adolescents in three countries from distinct European regions – Eastern (Lithuania), Southern (Portugal), and Western (Scotland).Materials and MethodsThe analysis included data from Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from three countries and three last surveys (2009/10, 2013/14, and 2017/18). The total sample comprised 47,439 schoolchildren. For validity, the indicators reflecting subjective health, life satisfaction, quality of life, well-being, social support, health complaints, bullying, and self-directed violence were assessed. The calculations were conducted in the total sample and by gender, age, survey year, and country.ResultsThe different indicators of concurrent and convergent validity revealed consistent correlations with happiness, with better well-being, health, and subjective perceptions being related to higher happiness. Meanwhile, health complaints, bullying behaviors, and self-directed violence were related to lower happiness. The subgroup differences were consistent across gender, age groups, countries, and survey rounds. The extent of differences was more expressed among girls.ConclusionThe single item for adolescent happiness measurement features a consistent pattern of validity concerning indicators of concurrent and convergent validity. Higher self-reported happiness is associated with better mental and physical health and well-being, and less expressed negative factors (complaints, bullying, and self-directed violence). In addition, among girls the correlations tend to be stronger than boys. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:47:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d7c710b25a3a48a2bfb87a932ec33985 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T12:47:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d7c710b25a3a48a2bfb87a932ec339852022-12-22T03:32:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-06-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.884520884520Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among AdolescentsJustė Lukoševičiūtė0Justė Lukoševičiūtė1Geneviève Gariepy2Judith Mabelis3Tania Gaspar4Roza Joffė-Luinienė5Kastytis Šmigelskas6Kastytis Šmigelskas7Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, LithuaniaFaculty of Public Health, Research Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, LithuaniaPublic Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, CanadaMedical Research Council, Chief Scientist Office Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, United KingdomCLISSIS, Psychology and Educational Sciences Institute, Universidade Lusíada, Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Health Psychology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Health Psychology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, LithuaniaFaculty of Public Health, Research Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, LithuaniaBackgroundHappiness is becoming increasingly relevant in recent research, including adolescents. Many studies are using the single-item measure for adolescent happiness, however, its validity is not well known. We aimed to examine the validity of this measure among adolescents in three countries from distinct European regions – Eastern (Lithuania), Southern (Portugal), and Western (Scotland).Materials and MethodsThe analysis included data from Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study from three countries and three last surveys (2009/10, 2013/14, and 2017/18). The total sample comprised 47,439 schoolchildren. For validity, the indicators reflecting subjective health, life satisfaction, quality of life, well-being, social support, health complaints, bullying, and self-directed violence were assessed. The calculations were conducted in the total sample and by gender, age, survey year, and country.ResultsThe different indicators of concurrent and convergent validity revealed consistent correlations with happiness, with better well-being, health, and subjective perceptions being related to higher happiness. Meanwhile, health complaints, bullying behaviors, and self-directed violence were related to lower happiness. The subgroup differences were consistent across gender, age groups, countries, and survey rounds. The extent of differences was more expressed among girls.ConclusionThe single item for adolescent happiness measurement features a consistent pattern of validity concerning indicators of concurrent and convergent validity. Higher self-reported happiness is associated with better mental and physical health and well-being, and less expressed negative factors (complaints, bullying, and self-directed violence). In addition, among girls the correlations tend to be stronger than boys.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.884520/fullhappinessvaliditywell-beinghealth complaintsbullyingviolence |
| spellingShingle | Justė Lukoševičiūtė Justė Lukoševičiūtė Geneviève Gariepy Judith Mabelis Tania Gaspar Roza Joffė-Luinienė Kastytis Šmigelskas Kastytis Šmigelskas Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among Adolescents Frontiers in Psychology happiness validity well-being health complaints bullying violence |
| title | Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among Adolescents |
| title_full | Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among Adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among Adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among Adolescents |
| title_short | Single-Item Happiness Measure Features Adequate Validity Among Adolescents |
| title_sort | single item happiness measure features adequate validity among adolescents |
| topic | happiness validity well-being health complaints bullying violence |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.884520/full |
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