Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
06:53
Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation
Published on: March 1, 2017
13.6K
Measuring and Assessing Fluctuating and Authentic-Durable Happiness in Italian Samples
Lucia Monacis1, Pierpaolo Limone2, Michaël Dambrun3
1Department of Economics, Management and Territory, University of Foggia, 71121 Foggia, Italy.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|February 11, 2021
Summary
This study validated an Italian happiness scale, finding evidence for its multidimensional structure. While authentic-durable happiness showed good reliability, fluctuating happiness had weaker temporal stability.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychometrics
- Social Sciences
Background:
- The self-centeredness and selflessness model posits two distinct dimensions of happiness: fluctuating and authentic-durable.
- A new instrument was developed to assess these dimensions, requiring validation in different linguistic contexts.
- Understanding the psychometric properties of such instruments is crucial for accurate happiness research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the factor structure of the Italian version of the happiness assessment instrument.
- To evaluate the psychometric properties, including reliability and validity, of the Italian scale.
- To assess the construct validity and temporal stability of the two happiness dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted with a total of 1274 participants.
- Study 1 (N=544) analyzed various measurement models, favoring a bifactor (S-1) solution.
- Study 2 (N=1274) confirmed the structure and assessed psychometric properties, convergent/divergent validity, and temporal stability.
Main Results:
- The bifactor (S-1) model demonstrated adequate fit indices, supporting a multidimensional conceptualization of happiness.
- The instrument showed good reliability and adequate convergent validity for both fluctuating and authentic-durable happiness scales.
- Discriminant validity yielded mixed results; age was not associated with authentic-durable happiness but negatively associated with fluctuating happiness. Test-retest reliability was adequate for authentic-durable happiness but below criteria for fluctuating happiness.
Conclusions:
- The Italian version of the happiness instrument is a valid and reliable tool, supporting its multidimensional nature.
- Authentic-durable happiness demonstrated better temporal stability compared to fluctuating happiness.
- Further research is recommended to replicate findings and address limitations, particularly regarding the fluctuating happiness dimension's stability.
Keywords:
convergent and discriminant validityfactor structurehappinessmeasurement modelspsychometric propertiestemporal stabilityMore Related Videos
07:14Investigating the 'Uncatchable Smile' in Leonardo da Vinci's La Bella Principessa: A Comparison with the Mona Lisa and Pollaiuolo's Portrait of a Girl
Published on: October 4, 2016
7.2K
13:08Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
9.2K
Related Concept Videos
01:22Traits, Mood, and Subjective Wellbeing
180
Subjective well-being (SWB) refers to an individual's self-evaluation of their overall life satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. This multifaceted construct is typically assessed by analyzing the balance of positive and negative emotions alongside perceptions of life satisfaction. Personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion are strongly associated with variations in SWB, offering critical insights into the underlying mechanisms of emotional well-being.
Neuroticism and...
Neuroticism and...
180
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
567
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
567
01:29Measures of Intelligence
8.0K
Psychologists measure intelligence by using standardized tests that produce a score known as the intelligence quotient or IQ. To understand IQ tests, it's important to recognize the key principles behind their construction: validity, reliability, and standardization.
Validity refers to how well a test measures what it claims to measure. An intelligence test should accurately assess intelligence rather than another characteristic, like anxiety. Criterion validity is one way to evaluate this;...
Validity refers to how well a test measures what it claims to measure. An intelligence test should accurately assess intelligence rather than another characteristic, like anxiety. Criterion validity is one way to evaluate this;...
8.0K
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
132
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
132
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.6K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.6K
01:26Longitudinal Studies
337
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
337