Affectometer 2
A self-report scale designed to measure the current level of general happiness and positive mental health.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Affectometer 2 was developed by Richard Kammann & Richard Flett (1983). It is designed to measure General Happiness. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 40 items organized into 10 factors/subscales: Confluence, Optimism, Self-efficacy, Self-esteem, Social Support, Social Interest, Freedom, Energy, Cheerfulness, Thought Clarity.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Confluence | 1,2,21,31 | 4 |
| Optimism | 3,4,22,32 | 4 |
| Self-efficacy | 5,6,23,33,36 | 5 |
| Self-esteem | 7,8,24,34 | 4 |
| Social Support | 9,10,25,35 | 4 |
| Social Interest | 11,12,26 | 3 |
| Freedom | 13,14,27,37 | 4 |
| Energy | 15,16,28,38 | 4 |
| Cheerfulness | 17,18,29,39 | 4 |
| Thought Clarity | 19,20,30,40 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = Occasionally, 3 = Some of the time, 4 = Often, 5 = All of the time.
The scale includes 20 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 40 to 200. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Happiness: 40 – 100
- Moderate Happiness: 101 – 140
- High Happiness: 141 – 200
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Alpha > 0.90.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 8 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.