The International wellbeing Index: A psychometric progress report

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The International wellbeing Index A psychometric
progress report

• Robert A. CUMMINS
• Deakin University, Australia
• Beatriz ARITA
• Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Mexico
• Sergiu BALTATESCU
• University of Oradea, Romania
• Jozef DZUKA
• Presov University, SLOVAKIA
• Ferran CASAS
• University of Girona, Spain
• Anna LAU
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
• Linda Luz GUERRERO
• Social Weather Stations,Philippines
• Gerard O'NEILL
• Amárach Consulting, IrelandHabib TILIOUINE
• University of Oran, AlgeriaGraciela TONON
• Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora,
  ArgentinaAnnapia VERRI
• Neurologic Institute C. Mondino and University of
  Pavia,Italy.

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• This is an initiative of the International
  Wellbeing Group.
• AIM-1
• To examine the relative psychometric
  performance of a standard SWB Index in different
  cultural and language groups.

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AIM-2

• To get beyond simplistic (and misleading)
  between-country comparisons of SWB
• To build understanding of WHY countries differ in
  their SWB

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Sample Demographics and Method
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Sample Demographics and Method
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The theoretical conception of the Index It
represents the First Level Deconstruction of two
global constructs.
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Response Scale
Standardized Scale
0-100
Normative population range for Western countries
Personal Wellbeing Index 70-80
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Factor Analysis
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Factor Analysis

• All countries tested produce two clean factors
  (using an item-loading cut-off score of .4
• BUT, the factors emerge in different orders

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What causes one factor to be stronger than the
other?
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SWB Homeostasis

• Our SWB is actively managed by a system that
  strives to maintain our level of happiness close
  to its genetically determined set-point.
• Set-points lie within the positive sector of the
  0 100 range
• ie. between 50 - 100

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Proximal Distal Dimension of homeostasis
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Why does the National Wellbeing Index normally
emerge first as the strongest factor?
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BUT

• This will only apply if homeostasis it effective.
• In situations of homeostatic defeat, the pattern
  will be reversed

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Prediction
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Factor Analysis
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Factor Analysis
Factor Analysis
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Factor Analysis
Factor Analysis
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Personal Wellbeing Index
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Personal Wellbeing Index
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Steel, P. Ones, D.S. (2000). Journal of
Personality Social Psychology, 83, 767-81.
Compared SWB and Personality

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Using population mean scores as data

• NEO-PI-R Extraversion Neuroticism
• Predicting affect R² .79
• Predicting SWB (happiness and satisfaction) R²
  .64

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Hierarchical Regression

• Step 1 GDP
• Step 2 SWB R² .76 ?R²
• ie. Personality explains MORE of the variance in
  between-nation SWB than does GDP !!

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Neuroticismvs.Personal Wellbeing Index
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Extraversionvs.Personal Wellbeing Index
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Conclusions

• These results are consistent with predictions
  based on Homeostasis Theory
• 2. In trying to understand why countries differ
  in their level of SWB, the variance is at least
  as informative as the mean scores.
• 3. Extraversion may be a good measure of cultural
  response bias