the gross national happiness abridged survey michael pennock, population health epidemiologist,...
TRANSCRIPT
The Gross National Happiness
Abridged Survey
Michael Pennock, Population Health Epidemiologist, Vancouver Island Health Authority,
Victoria, BC. Canada
Dasho Karma Ura, Director, Centre of Bhutan Studies Thimphu Bhutan
During the fall of 2006 a population survey measure of Gross National Happiness was developed and pretested by the Centre of Bhutan Studies for use in Bhutan.
The final survey instrument was composed of 1500 variables across eleven domains and took between 4 to 7 hours to administer.
Attempted to use items from other national or international surveys so that comparisons with other applications would be possible.
Why Another Survey? There are variety of surveys that
measure happiness and life satisfaction
Other individual surveys measure individual domains
GNH Survey attempts to incorporate happiness and domains into one survey instrument
CURRENT STATUS: Bhutanese Survey
300+ interviews completed Another 800+ to be completed by
spring Preliminary data analysis on original
sample now being done by CBS
GeneralizabilityMany of the items were specific to the Bhutanese context
and would not be relevant to other cultures or nations.
Six hour interview not feasible in most applications
A shorter and more generic version of the survey is being developed for use in other jurisdictions.
CHALLENGESBhutanese Survey
Material wellbeing in non-cash economy
Five point response scales Household heterogeneity Time use Translation of concepts such as quality
of life
Largest Challenge Breadth of domains Everything is related to
happiness/unhappiness How do you measure “everything”
without a six hour interview
HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING
subjective happiness general life-satisfaction enjoyment of life and satisfaction with
specific life dimensions general life-stress Combined into aggregate score
SPIRITUALITY Importance of spiritual beliefs and
activities
HEALTH General Health Questionnaire Self-rated health Activity Limitations
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY Social Support Interpersonal Trust Family Relationship Community Belonging Community Involvement Community Security and Stability
TIME USE AND BALANCE
Time Stress Satisfaction with Time Use
CORE VALUES
Importance of 13 core value dimensions
CULTURAL VITALITY Importance of cultural affiliation Minority group membership Experience of discrimination Satisfaction with value directions in
community
GOVERNANCE Satisfaction with political governance Respect for rights and freedoms Effectiveness of government
institutions
ENVIRONMENT
Importance of environment Satisfaction with environmental
conditions
LIVING STANDARDS Satisfaction with material
circumstances Areas of financial hardship Relative wealth Satisfaction with housing
Next Steps Critique from other cultural and
language groups Finalize abridged survey with further
reductions in number of items Further analysis of CBS data to
identify summary variables Pretest in different cultures
