Development and validation of the happiness scale among Indian Youth

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate a new scale for assessing happiness among Indian youth. A total of 910 participants aged 10-30 years were sampled. The preliminary items for the Happiness Scale for Indian Youth (HSIY) were generated through focused group discussions, in-depth interviews with 250 adolescents, consultations with a reference group (n=10), and a review of existing standardized scales. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and criterion validity were evaluated among 660 participants. Criterion validity was assessed using the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The EFA revealed five factors accounting for 59% of the observed variance. The final 38-item HSIY comprised five factors: Other Happiness (Cheerfulness, Work Environment), Wellbeing (Satisfaction, Physical and Mental Health), Activity (Outdoor/Social Activity, Engagement, Entertainment), Optimistic Thinking, and Pleasurable Feelings and Cognitive Processes (Sense of Achievement, Management). Furthermore, the CFA results yielded sufficient goodness-of-fit indices (>0.90). The reliability of the HSIY was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92). The criterion validity of the HSIY was significant with the SHS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PANAS. In conclusion, the HSIY is a valid and trustworthy tool for determining the level of happiness among Indian youth.