Abstract
Whilst research indicates that happiness-enhancing activities can boost happiness, the measurement of intentional happiness-enhancing
activities has thus far been inadequate. This paper describes the development and initial empirical testing of the Happiness-enhancing
Activities and Positive Practices Inventory (HAPPI), a self-report inventory designed to measure older adults’ happiness-enhancing
activities. An exploratory factor analysis of the HAPPI responses from a population sample of 2,313 older adults identified
four factors: self-concordant work, personal recreation and people, spiritual and thought-related, and goal-focused activities.
Results demonstrated evidence of reliability, convergent and discriminant validity and support for the predictive utility
of the HAPPI. The subscales derived from the factor analysis correlated as expected with measures of subjective well-being
and other relevant measures, and showed moderately high subscale intercorrelations and satisfactory internal consistency.
The results provide a basis for continuing to develop and clarify the types of intentional activities people engage in. Differences
between our results and studies with younger adults are discussed, including possible age-related differences in the types
of happiness-enhancing activities engaged in and the potential influence of these activities on happiness. The HAPPI is a
relatively brief, easily administered inventory that shows promise as a useful tool for the measurement of happiness-enhancing
activities and can be employed to follow cohorts to determine which domains demonstrate the greatest contribution to happiness
and other well-being outcomes, which have implications for social policy, education and intervention programmes to enhance
well-being.
activities has thus far been inadequate. This paper describes the development and initial empirical testing of the Happiness-enhancing
Activities and Positive Practices Inventory (HAPPI), a self-report inventory designed to measure older adults’ happiness-enhancing
activities. An exploratory factor analysis of the HAPPI responses from a population sample of 2,313 older adults identified
four factors: self-concordant work, personal recreation and people, spiritual and thought-related, and goal-focused activities.
Results demonstrated evidence of reliability, convergent and discriminant validity and support for the predictive utility
of the HAPPI. The subscales derived from the factor analysis correlated as expected with measures of subjective well-being
and other relevant measures, and showed moderately high subscale intercorrelations and satisfactory internal consistency.
The results provide a basis for continuing to develop and clarify the types of intentional activities people engage in. Differences
between our results and studies with younger adults are discussed, including possible age-related differences in the types
of happiness-enhancing activities engaged in and the potential influence of these activities on happiness. The HAPPI is a
relatively brief, easily administered inventory that shows promise as a useful tool for the measurement of happiness-enhancing
activities and can be employed to follow cohorts to determine which domains demonstrate the greatest contribution to happiness
and other well-being outcomes, which have implications for social policy, education and intervention programmes to enhance
well-being.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-18
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-011-9317-z
- Authors
- Annette Henricksen, School of Psychology, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
- Christine Stephens, School of Psychology, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, 4442 New Zealand
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978