Happiness Questionnaire
The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was developed by psychologists Michael Argyle and Peter Hills at Oxford University. It only takes only a couple of minutes to complete. You might want to record your score then see how it changes after you have included some of our tips for happiness into your life.
Instructions:
Below are some statements about happiness. Decide how much you agree or disagree by scoring each statement according to the following scale:
1 = strongly disagree
2 = moderately disagree
3 = slightly disagree
4 = slightly agree
5 = moderately agree
6 = strongly agree.
Please read the statements carefully, as some are phrased positively and others negatively. Don’t take too long; there are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers. The first answer that comes into your head is probably the right one for you. If you find some of the questions difficult, give the answer that is true for you in general or for most of the time.
The Questionnaire
1. I don’t feel particularly pleased with the way I am. (R)
2. I am intensely interested in other people.
3. I feel that life is very rewarding.
4. I have very warm feelings towards almost everyone.
5. I rarely wake up feeling rested. (R)
6. I am not particularly optimistic about the future. (R)
7. I find most things amusing.
8. I am always committed and involved.
9. Life is good.
10. I do not think that the world is a good place. (R)
11. I laugh a lot.
12. I am well satisfied about everything in my life.
13. I don’t think I look attractive. (R)
14. There is a gap between what I would like to do and what I have done. (R)
15. I am very happy.
16. I find beauty in some things.
17. I always have a cheerful effect on others.
18. I can fit in (find time for) everything I want to.
19. I feel that I am not especially in control of my life. (R)
20. I feel able to take anything on.
21. I feel fully mentally alert.
22. I often experience joy and elation.
23. I don’t find it easy to make decisions. (R)
24. I don’t have a particular sense of meaning and purpose in my life. (R)
25. I feel I have a great deal of energy.
26. I usually have a good influence on events.
27. I don’t have fun with other people. (R)
28. I don’t feel particularly healthy. (R)
29. I don’t have particularly happy memories of the past. (R)
Calculate Your Score
Step 1. Items marked (R) are scored in reverse: if you gave yourself a '1', change it to a '6'.
Change “2″ to a “5″
Change “3″ to a “4″
Change “4″ to a “3″
Change “5″ to a “2″
Change “6″ to a “1″.
Step 2. Add the numbers for all 29 questions. (Use the converted numbers for the 12 items that are reverse scored.)
Step 3. Divide by 29.
So your happiness score = the total (from step 2) divided by 29.
Reference: Hills, P. & Argyle, M. (2002). The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire: a compact scale for the measurement of psychological well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 33, 1073–1082.