Measures of Adult Wellbeing

Tools to Measure the General Wellbeing of Adults

Measures are listed from short to long (based on the shortest form) in terms of length of Administration, and each title is hyperlinked to a corresponding section with more information. All measures are reliable and valid and intended for adults.

Free Measures of Adult Wellbeing in a General Setting

These measures are for adultsThese are free measures

Name of Measure

Length

Pros

Cons

Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS)

4 items

 

Only 10% related to life circumstances
Currently under review

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWL)

5 items

Available in multiple languages
Comparable to national norms to contextualize wellbeing scores

Possibly too short for robust understanding of individual wellbeing (5-items)

Contentment with Life Assessment Scale (CLAS)

5 items

Comparatively in-depth focus of life satisfaction: contentment, fulfillment, and self-discrepancies

Possibly too short for robust understanding (5-items)
Less widely tested than other measures

Flourishing Scale (FS)

8 items

Translations are available

Possibly too short for robust understanding (8-items)

The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ)

8 items

29 items

Both long and short versions
Widely used

 

Comprehensive and Brief Inventory of Thriving (CIT & BIT)

10 items

54 items

Both long and short versions
Covers multiple domains
Translations available

 

Mental Health Continuum Short and Long Form (MHC-SF)

14 items

40 items

Multiple translations available
Used mostly with adults but can be used with 12-18-year-olds
Extensive overview with relatively few items

 

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

20 items

Has partner scale for children (see PANAS-C)
Multiple translations available (French, German, Swedish)

 

The PERMA Profiler

23 items

General overview of wellbeing
Widely used

 
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