Appendix A
Experienced Well-Being Questions and Modules from Existing Surveys
Included in this appendix are examples of subjective well-being (SWB) modules that have been used in various surveys. The first set is the UK Office for National Statistics SWB module used in the Integrated Household Survey.1 The remaining three sets are experienced well-being (ExWB) questions compiled by Kapteyn and colleagues (2013, p. 10) from three sources:
1. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing;
2. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index; and
3. HWB-12, a set of 12 questions to assess hedonic well-being, which was developed by Jacqui Smith and Arthur Stone and included in the 2012 administration of the Health and Retirement Study.
These examples are meant to illustrate question wording and the scope of SWB modules; they are far from comprehensive. The Annexes in the OECD Guidelines (OECD, 2013) offer another set of examples of SWB measures and sample question modules that draw broadly from existing surveys.
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1 See http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/wellbeing/measuring-subjective-wellbeing-in-the-uk/first-annual-ons-experimental-subjective-well-being-results/first-ons-annual-experimental-subjective-well-being-results.html#tab-Background [October 2013].
UK OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS SWB MODULE
Between April 2011 and March 2012, four subjective well-being questions were included in the constituent surveys of the Integrated Household Survey:
1. Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays?
2. Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?
3. Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?
4. Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday?
All were answered on a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is “not at all” and 10 is “completely.”
ExWB QUESTIONS FROM THE ENGLISH LONGITUDINAL SURVEY OF AGEING
What day of the week was it yesterday? Tick one box.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
What time did you wake up yesterday? For example, if you woke up at 4:00 AM, please enter 04 for the hour, 00 for the minutes, and circle AM.
Hours___ Minutes___ AM or PM
What time did you go to sleep at the end of the day yesterday? For example, if you went to sleep at 11:30 PM, please enter 11 for the hour, 30 for the minutes, and circle PM.
Hours___ Minutes___ AM or PM
Yesterday, did you feel any pain?
| None | |
| A little | |
| Some | |
| Quite a bit | |
| A lot | |
Did you feel well-rested yesterday morning (that is, you slept well the night before)?
Yes No
Was yesterday a normal day for you or did something unusual happen? Tick one box.
Yes, just a normal day
No, my day included unusual bad (stressful) things
No, my day included unusual good things
Intro: Please think about the things you did yesterday. How did you spend your time and how did you feel?
Yesterday, did you watch TV? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next 2 questions)
How much time did you spend watching TV yesterday? For example, if you spent one and a half hours, enter 1 for the hours and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were watching TV yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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Yesterday, did you work or volunteer? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next 2 questions)
How much time did you spend working or volunteering yesterday? For example, if you spent nine and a half hours, enter 9 for the hours and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were working or volunteering yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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Yesterday, did you go for a walk or exercise? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next 2 questions)
How much time did you spend walking or exercising yesterday? For example, if you spent 30 minutes, enter 0 for the hours and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were walking or exercising yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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Yesterday, did you do any health-related activities other than walking or exercise? For example, did you visit a doctor, take medications, or have a treatment? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next 2 questions)
How much time did you spend doing health-related activities yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were doing health-related activities yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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Yesterday, did you travel or commute? For example, by car, train, bus, etc. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next 2 questions)
How much time did spend traveling or commuting yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were traveling or commuting yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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Yesterday, did you spend time with friends or family? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next 2 questions)
How much time did you spend with friends or family yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were with friends or family yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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Yesterday, did you spend time at home by yourself? Without a spouse, partner, or anyone else present. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next 2 questions)
How much time did you spend at home by yourself yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were at home by yourself yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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Additional module:
Overall, how did you feel yesterday? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| Happy | |
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| Angry | |
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| Tired | |
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| Lonely | |
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EXPERIENCED EMOTION QUESTIONS FROM THE GALLUP-HEALTHWAYS WELL-BEING INDEX
Did you experience anger during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience depression during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience enjoyment during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience happiness during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience sadness during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience stress during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience worry during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Now, please think about yesterday, from the morning until the end of the day. Think about where you were, what you were doing, who you were with, and how you felt. Did you learn or do something interesting yesterday?
Yes
No
Now, please think about yesterday, from the morning until the end of the day. Think about where you were, what you were doing, who you were with, and how you felt. Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday?
Yes
No
Now, please think about yesterday, from the morning until the end of the day. Think about where you were, what you were doing, who you were with, and how you felt. Were you treated with respect all day yesterday?
Yes
No
Now, please think about yesterday, from the morning until the end of the day. Think about where you were, what you were doing, who you were with, and how you felt. Would you like to have more days just like yesterday?
Yes
No
Additional module:
Did you experience enthusiasm during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience contentment during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience frustration during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience fatigue during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience loneliness during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience boredom during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
Did you experience pain during a lot of the day yesterday?
Yes
No
What time did you wake up yesterday? __________
What time did you go to bed yesterday? __________
Did you feel well-rested yesterday morning (that is, you slept well the night before)? Tick one box.
Yes
No
Was yesterday a normal day for you or did something unusual happen?
Yes, just a normal day
No, my day included unusual bad (stressful) things
No, my day included unusual good things
Intro: Please think about the things you did yesterday. How did you spend your time and how did you feel?
Yesterday, did you watch TV? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend watching TV yesterday? For example, if you spent one and a half hours, enter 1 for the hours and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you work or volunteer? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend working or volunteering yesterday? For example, if you spent nine and a half hours, enter 9 for the hours and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you go for a walk or exercise? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend walking or exercising yesterday? For example, if you spent 30 minutes, enter 0 for the hours box and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you do any health-related activities other than walking or exercise? For example, visit a doctor, take medications, or have a treatment. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend doing health-related activities yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you travel or commute? For example, by car, train, bus, etc. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend traveling or commuting yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you spend time with friends or family? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend with friends or family yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you spend time at home by yourself? Without a spouse, partner, or anyone else present. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend at home by yourself yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were walking or exercising? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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ExWB QUESTIONNAIRE FROM THE HWB-12 MODULE
SOURCE: Smith and Stone (2011).
Now we would like you to think about yesterday. What did you do yesterday and how did you feel?
To begin, please tell me what time you woke up yesterday. __________
And what time did you go to sleep yesterday? __________
Now please take a few quiet seconds to recall your activities and experiences yesterday.
Good, now I have questions about your experiences yesterday.
[Randomize order of emotions]
Yesterday, did you feel happy? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel enthusiastic? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel content? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel angry? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel frustrated? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel tired? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel sad? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel stressed? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel lonely? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel worried? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel bored? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel pain? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Additional module: [Randomize order of emotions]
Yesterday, did you feel depressed? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you feel joyful? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Yesterday, did you learn or do something interesting? Would you say
Not at all, A little, Somewhat, Quite a bit, Very
Did you feel well-rested yesterday morning (that is, you slept well the night before)?
Yes
No
Was yesterday a normal day for you or did something unusual happen? Tick one box.
Yes, just a normal day
No, my day included unusual bad (stressful) things
No, my day included unusual good things
Intro: Please think about the things you did yesterday. How did you spend your time and how did you feel?
Yesterday, did you watch TV? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend watching TV yesterday? For example, if you spent one and a half hours, enter 1 for the hours and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you work or volunteer? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend working or volunteering yesterday? For example, if you spent nine and a half hours, enter 9 for the hours and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you go for a walk or exercise? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend walking or exercising yesterday? For example, if you spent 30 minutes, enter 0 for the hours box and 30 for the minutes.
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday did you do any health-related activities other than walking or exercise? For example, visit a doctor, take medications, or have a treatment. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend doing health-related activities yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday did you travel or commute? For example, by car, train, bus, etc. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did spend traveling or commuting yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday did you spend time with friends or family? Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend with friends or family yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
Yesterday, did you spend time at home by yourself? Without a spouse, partner, or anyone else present. Tick one box.
Yes
No (skip next question)
How much time did you spend at home by yourself yesterday?
Hours___ Minutes___
How did you feel when you were walking or exercising? Rate each feeling on a scale from 0 (did not experience at all) to 6 (the feeling was extremely strong). Tick one box on each line.
| I felt | |||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
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| Interested | |
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