A study of psychological well‐being

The concept of psychological well-being is introduced, and scales to measure three of its different facets are described and applied to 1655 British respondents. Results from measures of positive and negative affect are compared with North American findings, and hypotheses are broadly confirmed. Two clusters of specific anxiety items are identified, to do with financial and family anxiety and with health anxiety. The third measure (ratings of present life in general) yields a major cluster of happiness items, but suggests additional dimensions for more detailed investigation. Interrelationships between the several measures and with employment position, motivation to work, job characteristics and age are examined. The study of everyday life as 'normal psychology' is advocated.