The Authentic Happiness Inventory Questionnaire is © 2005 Christopher Peterson, University of Michigan.

 

 

Rationale

The researcher will be testing potential improvements in happiness levels through the Authentic Happiness Inventory in addition to potential decreases in depression as measured by changes in the Beck's Depression Inventory. It is a frequently used measure which helps clinicians test for the subjective assessment of happiness. It's primarily used in studies centered around positive psychology.

 

How it measures happiness

Şanli et al. (2019) explain that the AHI scale involves three four-item sub-scales: self-alienation, authentic living, and accepting external influence. The AHI is a 7-point Likert-type scale composed of 24 items. Each item presents clients with 5 different choices to choose from.

 

Validity, Reliability, Responsiveness, Sensitivity to Change

Proyer et al. (2017) argue that this measurement is sufficiently sensitive to be able to detect subtle changes in happiness levels and differentiates happiness at very high levels. Proyer et al. (2017) studied the German version of the AHI on 5166 individuals and reviewed 3 studies.

• In the first study, four independently collected samples provided evidence that the AHI possesses good psychometric properties as well as convergent as well as discriminant validity.

• In the second study, results pointed towards the AHI having high test-retest correlations, and this over a period of one week, and one, three and six months (r = .75–.85; N = 319). In addition, the experience of positive life events showed correlations with higher scores in the AHI questionnaire.

• In the third study, the AHI was utilized in a positive psychology intervention study. It was used to test two well-established positive psychology interventions (i.e., “another door opens”, and “three good things”) against a placebo treatment-as-usual group. This was conducted on a sample size of 400 people.

Proyer et al. (2017) conclude that the three studies cited above point towards the AHI possessing good psychometric properties.

 

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Şanlı, E., Çelik, S.B., & Gençoğlu, C. (2019). Validity and Reliability of The Authentic Happiness Scale. Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences.

 

Proyer, R.T., Gander, F., Wellenzohn, S. et al. The Authentic Happiness Inventory Revisited: Addressing its Psychometric Properties, Validity, and Role in Intervention Studies. J well-being assess 1, 77–96 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41543-018-0006-0